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Scottish Executive spending review & transport: More money for public transport - but commitment to stabilising traffic levels dropped Responding to today's spending review announcement, TRANSform Scotland has welcomed the apparent attempt to rebalance public spending back towards public transport. TRANSform Scotland is however critical of the dropping of the target to stabilise road traffic levels, made only in March this year. Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said: "Since 1999, the Scottish Executive has made spending commitments in excess of £500 million in new road-building projects. [1] It therefore welcome that the Scottish Executive seems to be making efforts to rebalance its spending plans back towards major upgrades to public transport." [2] "It is however disappointing that the statement has dropped the commitment to stabilising road traffic levels made in the Transport Delivery Report earlier this year. [3] If the Executive is not prepared to make a commitment to stabilising, and then reducing, road traffic levels then we are not confident that the Executive's transport plans can be anything but bad for climate change and the environment." TRANSform Scotland is also critical of the Executive's continued failure to devote dedicated funds to increasing walking and cycling use. Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said: "Andy Kerr talked about improving public health but failed to even mention the two modes of transport that could actively improve Scotland's health - walking and cycling. Getting more people to make short trips on foot or by bike could also make large inroads into traffic congestion and pollution." [4] ENDS
Notes to Editors: [1] Committed spend on new road-building since 1999: The total cost of these projects is £522.6 million. (References available on request.) 'Building a Better Scotland' talks about "preparation for the A8 and A80 upgrade" - using estimates in the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study report, these projects would bring the Scottish Executive's road-building programme to over £800 million. [2] Committed spend on new public transport infrastructure: The 'Other Public Transport' budget line (page 46 of 'Building a Better Scotland') claims an increase from £166 million in 2002-03 to £414 million in 2005-06. This however includes Public Transport Fund payments that were previously made through Local Government Spending Plans - see note 4 on that page. [3] Transport investment should help - not hinder - meeting transport targets The Executive's transport delivery report "Scotland's Transport: Delivering improvements" (March 2002) made commitment to an important progress indicator: road traffic levels. We believe that this is a useful indicator as it is a good proxy for the environmental impact of road transport, and in particular climate change emissions. However, the target chosen Ð to stabilise total vehicle kilometres at 2001 levels by 2021 Ð is weak and appears incompatible with the Scottish ExecutiveÕs commitments on climate change emission reduction. The UK Climate Change Strategy target is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010; it also requires the UK transport sector to deliver 40% of all proposed climate change emission reduction. Therefore even if the TDR target for road traffic stabilisation is met, the Scottish transport sector will not be making an adequate contribution to the UK Climate Climate Strategy. [4] Inadequate expenditure on walking and cycling The Scottish Executive claims to have devoted £20 million to "Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets" projects since 1998. This is however a paltry sum compared to that routinely spent on major infrastructure projects. This area is likely to produce outcomes consistent with sustainable transport policy objectives, and at generally very low cost. END OF NEWS RELEASE |