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Scottish Executive Publication Scotland's Transport - Delivering Improvements

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Scottish Executive Publication Scotland's Transport - Delivering Improvements ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION & PROPERTY 18 APRIL 2002 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE PUBLICATION SCOTLAND'S TRANSPORT - DELIVERING IMPROVEMENTS 1. SUMMARY The purpose of this report is to draw Member’s attention to the publication by the Scottish Executive of the document “Scotland’s Transport – Delivering Improvements”, which sets out improvements to the transport network over recent years and the Executive’s vision and strategy for the future. A full copy of the Executive’s publication “Scotland’s Transport – Delivering Improvements” is available in the Member’s Lounge. 2. RECOMMENDATION Members are asked: (a) To note the contents of the report; (b) Agree to the Transportation Spokesperson writing to the Minister to express: (i) the urgent requirement to upgrade the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan, recognising the strategic importance of the route to communities in the Western Highlands and Islands; (ii) the Council’s concern at the failure to properly fund the maintenance of local roads, that the situation is not sustainable and that the Executive should match the resources and commitment provided by the DTLR in England. 3. INTRODUCTION In her introduction to the document, Wendy Alexander MSP recognises that within the available resources it will not be possible to address all of Scotland’s transport problems, but does commit to support rural and island areas through the maintenance of lifeline air and ferry services, while simultaneously addressing the challenge of urban congestion and improving access and integration of services. It is significant that of the top ten priorities, nine are targeted at improving public transport. The document also stresses the importance the Government attaches to the development of regional transport partnerships such as HITRANS and WESTRANS as being key to the delivery of transport services in the future. F:\moderngov\data\published\Intranet\C00000188\M00000683\AI00002632\DeliveringImprovements0.doc 1 of 7 26 April 2002 4. THE VISION Within this section of the document, which sets out the Executive’s vision for the future the following issues are highlighted. 4.1 Challenge The development of sustainable transport policies having regard to the environment and particular the commitment to work with the UK Government to achieve the Kyoto target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2010. 4.2 Tackling Congestion A recognition that congestion is predominantly an urban problem and for the need to stabilise road traffic at 2001 levels. Instrumental in achieving this target is the Executive’s strategy to improve public transport and to change attitudes to car use. This is reflected in that 9 of the 10 priorities identified within the document relate to public transport initiatives. (c.f. Executive Summary). 4.3 Traveline Renewal of the commitment to work in partnership with Local Authorities, SPT and transport operators to further develop Traveline Scotland Ltd as a national public transport information service. 4.4 Complete Missing Links A recognition that transport infrastructure must be integrated with land use development planning and economic development policy. While the document makes reference to completing missing links on sections of the A8, A80, A800 and the M9 spur at Kirkliston it is regrettable in terms of the Western Highlands that no reference is made of the requirement to upgrade the A82 North of Tarbet. 4.5 Improving Safety To achieve the new national targets for reducing casualties in the period up to 2010. These include a 40% reduction in all deaths and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads and a 50% reduction in those figures insofar as they relate to children. It should be noted however that the trend in road accidents in Argyll and Bute particularly on the trunk road network is currently on the increase. 4.6 Making it Happen While the Executive is reviewing how best to deploy its own resources, it is keen to improve cooperation between the various parties involved. In this regard the Executive makes specific reference to the possibility of establishing a Highlands and Islands Transport Authority. It should be noted however that for the present, the members of the Partnership would seek to proceed on the basis of further developing existing arrangements between Authorities and the Executive, in the belief that the establishment of a statutory Authority is premature. F:\moderngov\data\published\Intranet\C00000188\M00000683\AI00002632\DeliveringImprovements0.doc 2 of 7 26 April 2002 4.7 Funding Reference is made to the comprehensive review of Government expenditure to be undertaken in 2002 for funding up to 2005-2006, recognising the competing demands on available resources. While it is anticipated that the investment planned for transport in 2003-2004 will provide significant improvements in the short term, it acknowledges that these must be sustained and augmented by other sources of funding if the vision is to be fully realised. The document therefore indicates that the Executive will take full advantage of private sector and European funding as part of its overall strategy. The document however fails to give any specific commitment to address the backlog in road maintenance. This is in marked contrast to the position south of the border, where the Government has provided additional financial resources to halt the decline in the condition of the road network over a period of 4 years and to fully address the maintenance backlog by the end of the decade. A Scottish Executive internal briefing note, leaked to the press estimated that the spending shortfall on transport in Scotland would amount to approximately £85 M over the next three years. 4.8 Road User Charging The Executive has indicated that it is strongly supportive of the proposal by Edinburgh City Council to introduce road user charging as a means of supporting public transport and achieving a modal shift in transport usage. 5. DELIVERING The second chapter of the document entitled “Delivering”, summarises the investment in the Scottish transport network since 1997. 5.1 Central Government Expenditure While the document indicates that expenditure by Central Government has grown from a figure of £256 M in 1995/96 to £586 M by the end of 2003–2004, this figure is perhaps misleading in that it does not take account of the change in the financial arrangements for the rail industry in 1995/1996. A more accurate comparison would therefore be to compare the figures for 1996/97 of approximately £480 M with that proposed for 2003-2004 of £586 M. It should be noted that over the period expenditure on trunk roads and motorways has remained stable at approximately £220 M. 5.2 Local Authority Expenditure While the document fails to address the underfunding of local road maintenance, it does identify that as part of the year 2000 settlement, the Executive provided additional block capital allocation of £70 M over a three year period for the maintenance of local roads and bridges. (This sum does not include the additional £20 M of revenue funding awarded in February 2002 for the current financial year). Expenditure under the Public Transport Challenge Fund has also increased to over £150 M for the three year period to March 2004. 5.3 Campbeltown to Ballycastle Ferry Service With respect to the Campbeltown – Ballycastle Ferry Service the document reaffirms the Executive’s intention to issue a tender covering a five year period from 2003, subject to the annual cost not exceeding £1 M per year for an 11 month period of operation. F:\moderngov\data\published\Intranet\C00000188\M00000683\AI00002632\DeliveringImprovements0.doc 3 of 7 26 April 2002 For further information please contact Mr A Gow, Director of Transportation & Property (01546 604657) A Gow Director of Transportation & Property F:\moderngov\data\published\Intranet\C00000188\M00000683\AI00002632\DeliveringImprovements0.doc 4 of 7 26 April 2002 APPENDIX Executive Summary The purpose of the Transport retrospect, the establishment network in Scotland by Delivery Report is two-fold. of Strathclyde Passenger letting a new 15 year It sets out the Executive’s Transport Executive (SPT) Scottish passenger rail transport vision for Scotland, in 1973 (formerly the franchise, pursuing the and it describes in detail, Greater Glasgow Passenger strategic improvements area by area, the very real Transport Executive) can be to the Scottish rail transport improvements that seen to be a visionary move, network which have have been and will be which has advanced public already been identified delivered in the short term transport in the West of and summarised in the with committed funds. Scotland. Strategic Rail Authority’s Strategic The last time that Scotland The Vision: The challenge Plan, and delivering the really had a transport vision is to deliver transport Executive’s top priority was in the 1960’s, when the improvements consistent rail projects (new rail then Government laid out a with the Executive’s links for Larkhall – vision based on joining up overarching vision and Milngavie and Stirling – Scotland’s major towns and appropriate to the needs in Alloa – Kincardine, cities through a major trunk different parts of Scotland, Aberdeen Crossrail and road and motorway building and to deliver a transport re-building Gourock programme. The 1963 system fit for the 21st station); White Paper “Central century. This means Scotland – A Programme for focusing on congestion in • increasing capacity on Development and Growth” and around major the rail network in and describes the priority given metropolitan areas, around Edinburgh to the development of the delivering greater integration through the re- main trunk routes up until and the completion of vital development of 1969. The aim was to missing links in the transport Waverley Station, strengthen internal links, network. Edinburgh; thus shortening journey times, and to improve access Taking up the Challenge: • opening up direct access to external markets.
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