08 December 2006
Road pricing, cutting congestion, reducing carbon monoxide emissions and improving accessibility to public transport will be at the heart of Scotland's 20-year strategy on transport, Transport Minister Tavish Scott announced this week.
Scott said the Executive supported UK-wide road pricing – as outlined in the Westminster-commissioned report produced last week by Sir Rod Eddington.
According to the Executive document, the amount of government funding available for the national transport strategy will be decided through the periodic Spending Review process.
Spending on transport is due to rise to £2.3bn by 2007/08. This compares with £1.5bn in 2005/06. In the nine years to 2010/11, it is expected that about 70% of the budget will go on public transport.
Announcing the proposals, Scott backed plans for high-speed rail links between Scotland and London and the introduction of a faster service between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This appears to be at odds with Eddington's report, which ruled out building expensive new rail links.
Scott said: 'If we can act with the UK government to cut journey times, this would be consistent with our environmental obligations and it would be a win-win situation.
'I do not think Eddington has been ambitious enough and his report is based on economic assessment alone.'
He added: 'The issue to be tackled is congestion and the figure across the UK is that 81% of all congestion is caused in and around our great cities.'
The strategy, which emphasises the importance of transport in boosting economic growth, commits the Executive to driving forward its £3bn capital investment programme of improvements to both road and rail networks.
It also backs improved bus services as an alternative to the car.
PFdec2006