Among the Conservatives’ key manifesto pledges on transport are to invest in railways – including Northern Powerhouse Rail – as well as giving city regions funding to upgrade public transport and spending £28.8Bn on strategic and local roads.

“Promises of investment were made during the election campaign that must now be honoured if we are to secure economic growth after we leave the European Union,” commented Civil Engineering Contractors Association chief executive Alasdair Reisner.

“In particular, Boris Johnson should use his first 100 days to turbo charge the infrastructure sector by committing to schemes that have been delayed by the election or have had doubt thrown on their future.”

British Chambers of Commerce director general Dr Adam Marshall emphasised the importance for the new Government of pressing ahead with improvements to transport infrastructure, including High Speed 2 and additional capacity at Heathrow.

“Our business communities need to see swift, decisive action to avoid a messy and disorderly exit from the EU and to tackle the barriers holding back investment and growth here in the UK,” he added.

Sub regional transport body Transport for the North’s chief executive Barry White welcomed focus on the region during the run up to the election, but said: “The Prime Minister must now deliver.

“We’ve been encouraged by promises to fully commit to Northern Powerhouse Rail, and invest in our strategic and local roads,” he said. “That, and tackling the challenge of making our networks greener and more inclusive, will be critical in the coming months and years.”

Consultant Arcadis’ head of strategic research said that decisions on programmes such as High Speed 2 need to be finalised and urged announcements on a National Infrastructure Strategy and the second Road Investment Strategy in the next Budget.

“Over the term of the Parliament we would like to see the Government place greater emphasis on social and environmental outcomes in its investment decision making over strictly economic criteria,” he added.

Imperial College London’s senior lecturer on environmental policy Audrey De Nazelle said she wants to see politicians and sector professionals collaborate on fresh visions for urban streets that prioritise health and wellbeing benefits.

“We still conceive streets and transport systems as being very focused around car travel,” she said. “Even when it comes to policies to reduce air pollution, a lot of focus is on decarbonising the vehicle fleet.

“I think that is misguided and a huge wasted opportunity to do much better. We need to change our vision of transport and what it is for.”

She urged changes to urban design that prioritise walking, cycling and public transport. “Instead of investing in where do the electric vehicle chargers go, how do we get rid of the cars?”

Committee on Climate Change senior analyst for surface transport Ellie Davies said that a range of actions will be needed from Government if transport is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Plans are needed to ensure more people walk, cycle and choose public transport – and infrastructure to help meet these goals is essential,” she commented. “Alongside a ban on sales of fossil fuelled vehicles by 2030-35, we need more electric cars and vans on our roads.”

Action to tackle climate change is among CIHT’s key asks of the Government, and will require behavioural changes underpinned by transport infrastructure that encourages sustainable travel, the Institution says.

It emphasises that, for many decades, the car has been on top of the transportation hierarchy to the detriment of society and the environment. A shift to a position which prioritises pedestrians, cyclists and clean public transport is urged.

This transition should be seen as an opportunity to create a healthier and more inclusive society brought about by improved air quality, more active travel and more space in the public realm dedicated to people.

CIHT’s Climate Change Pledge represents its commitment to provide leadership for the sector in responding to the climate emergency. The Institution also calls for the Government to produce a National Integrated Transport Strategy – taking into account how transport can contribute to health, environment, housing, social and economic policies – to provide certainty of funding for infrastructure investment and to take action on improving local roads.

Rail Delivery Group chief executive Paul Plummer called on the Government to commit to building High Speed 2 and “seize the opportunity to deliver root and branch reform of our railway through the Williams Review, including updating decades old regulations to create an easier to use, better value fares system for the whole country.”

Campaign group Cycling UK however expressed alarm at the prospect of funding cuts to cycling under the new Government. Its chief executive Paul Tuohy claimed that the new administration may slash the level of funding for cycling in England to less than a quarter of its current levels for the next five years.

“The Conservatives in its manifesto promised to spend just £70M a year on cycling infrastructure, opening up a chasm between what has been promised and what is actually needed.”

He added that the party’s manifesto commitment would see the current £7 per head currently being spent on walking and cycling in England, outside of London, reduce to just £1.55 per head. This would, he said “be an abject failure by this incoming Government to address the climate, air pollution, congestion and inactivity related health crises the country is now facing”.

Photograph credit: Cubankite – Shutterstock