Mobility in Wales Background report for Llwybr Newydd - the Wales transport strategy 2021 This report is not a statement of Welsh Government policy. 1 Mobility in Wales background report for Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................... 6 Terms used in this report ............................................................................................................................ 7 1 Transport in Wales ........................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Transport trends .............................................................................................................................. 12 1.2 Active travel .................................................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Public transport ............................................................................................................................... 14 1.3.1 Bus .............................................................................................................................................. 14 1.3.2 Rail .............................................................................................................................................. 16 1.4 Road, streets and parking ............................................................................................................... 17 1.4.1 Car, van and motorcycle travel ................................................................................................... 17 1.4.2 The Welsh Strategic Road Network (SRN) .................................................................................. 18 1.4.3 Unadopted roads ........................................................................................................................ 20 1.4.4 Road safety ................................................................................................................................. 20 1.4.5 Regulation of vehicles ................................................................................................................ 22 1.4.6 Car parking ................................................................................................................................. 23 1.5 Taxis and private hire vehicles......................................................................................................... 24 1.6 Aviation ........................................................................................................................................... 24 1.7 Ports and shipping ........................................................................................................................... 26 1.8 Freight and Logistics ........................................................................................................................ 27 1.9 Third sector ...................................................................................................................................... 28 1.9.1 Community transport ................................................................................................................. 28 1.9.2 Community rail ........................................................................................................................... 29 1.9.3 Historic railways and navigable canals ....................................................................................... 30 1.9.4 Voluntary groups ........................................................................................................................ 31 1.10 The impact of COVID-19 .................................................................................................................. 31 2 Transport policy in Wales ................................................................................................................. 34 2.1 Roles and responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 34 2.1.1 UK government........................................................................................................................... 34 2.1.2 Welsh Ministers .......................................................................................................................... 34 2.1.3 Welsh Local Authorities .............................................................................................................. 34 2.1.4 Transport for Wales .................................................................................................................... 35 2.1.5 Transport operators ................................................................................................................... 36 2.1.6 Transport user groups ................................................................................................................ 36 2.1.7 The Welsh Commissioners ......................................................................................................... 36 2.1.8 The National Infrastructure Commission ................................................................................... 37 2.2 Funding for transport services and infrastructure ........................................................................... 37 2.2.1 Welsh Government expenditure ................................................................................................ 37 2.2.2 The National Transport Finance Plan ......................................................................................... 38 2.2.3 WelTAG ....................................................................................................................................... 38 2.3 Legislative and policy reform .......................................................................................................... 38 2.3.1 Devolution of further transport powers ..................................................................................... 39 2.3.2 Concessionary and discounted travel ......................................................................................... 39 2.3.3 Bus reform .................................................................................................................................. 40 2.3.4 Taxis and private hire vehicles ................................................................................................... 40 This report is not a statement of Welsh Government policy. 2 Mobility in Wales background report for Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021 2.3.5 Default speed limits and pavement parking ............................................................................... 41 2.3.6 Regional corporate joint committees ......................................................................................... 42 2.3.7 Brexit .......................................................................................................................................... 42 3 Transport and sustainable development .......................................................................................... 45 3.1 Transport and the environment ...................................................................................................... 45 3.1.1 Decarbonisation ......................................................................................................................... 45 3.1.2 Air quality and transport ............................................................................................................ 47 3.1.3 Noise ........................................................................................................................................... 48 3.1.4 Ecosystems and biodiversity ...................................................................................................... 49 3.1.5 Climate change and transport infrastructure ............................................................................. 50 3.1.6 Waste and materials ................................................................................................................... 51 3.2 Transport and health ....................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.1 The health impacts of air quality and noise ............................................................................... 51 3.2.2 Obesity and physical inactivity ................................................................................................... 52 3.3 Transport and equality .................................................................................................................... 53 3.3.1 Duties and human rights ............................................................................................................ 54 3.3.2 Disabled people .......................................................................................................................... 56 3.3.3 Older people ............................................................................................................................... 57 3.3.4 Young people .............................................................................................................................