Transport Committee's Alarming Report
In an alarming report, the transport select committee has declared that investment in roads will have to ‘substantially’ increase over the next 10 years.
MP’s also raised alarm bells for the Government, saying they must find 'new funding streams' to meet the increasing gap in demand.
Fears have stemmed from the unreliable source of funding that is fuel duty; as cars become more fuel efficient, less money can be raised from tax.
The committee also called out the Department for Transport's (DfT's) road strategy, questioning it’s projections for continued traffic growth and plans to become a government owned company. The transport committee called for the DFT to respond to claims over inaccuracy in transport modelling after committee chair, Louise Ellman, stating “the department has already conceded that it does not work well for forecasting London traffic and needs to be reviewed.”
Committee members warned: “investment in the road network will require new funding streams’ and highlight those in the sector that support road user charging.”
They added: “a consensus would be required to introduce any road user charging scheme across the strategic road network as an alternative to road taxation, and the many issues involved would have to be resolved.”
Government Owned Highways Agency
The transport committee said it was ‘not convinced’ with plans to make the Highways Agency a government owned company. They concluded their goals seemed achievable through tough management and its relationship with the Department for Transport.
Regarding this, Ms Ellman called for a ‘a far stronger system of regulatory oversight than is currently proposed’ however praised the five year funding plan for the HA.
In its Better Roads report, the Transport Committee advised that new plans look forward to demand by route or region to determine new rail and road investment.
“There must also be a more transparent system for road planning as part of a wider national transport strategy. As part of this, the DfT’s National Transport Model should be subjected to proper scrutiny,” Ms Ellman said.
“The Strategic Road Network is a crucial part of our national transport system but has suffered from inconsistent funding and policy over the past twenty years. If the traffic forecasts are correct, then Government will need to increase investment in the road network substantially over the next decade.
She finalised: “Against that backdrop the Committee recognises the need for a consensus around how to raise the money required to modernise the UK’s road network.”
Safety Improvements
There was one sweeping commitment outlined in the Committee’s national policy statement which stated that improvement for cyclists and pedestrians be embedded in all road schemes.
A DfT spokesperson said: “We are tripling the amount of investment in our roads to over £3bn a year and will spend £28bn up to 2021. ‘Our reforms to the Highways Agency will make sure this money is spent efficiently by introducing long-term funding and independent scrutiny.
“Alongside our national policy statement which supports a balanced package of developments across the road and rail networks - including investment in sustainable transport - our plans will ensure road users get a network that is fit for the 21st century.”
Sian Berry, from the Campaign for Better Transport said the committee had “condemned the Department for Transport's traffic forecasts, which are being used to justify £28bn of road-building plans.
“It has shown them up as both consistently and dramatically inaccurate, and as a flimsy basis for a national transport policy.”