The IHT Transport Policy Statement

The IHT Transport Policy Statement (Published March 2003) sets out ten key requirements for a better transport system.

• More finance is needed – both public and private – to deliver the desired outcomes in the Ten Year Transport Plan.
• The growing price differential between bus and car operating costs needs to be reversed by fiscal measures.
• Government must positively promote the integration of bus, tram, train and taxi services.
• Congestion on inter-urban roads must be relieved by selective improvements to increase capacity and restraining road space demand.
• Travel congestion can be decoupled from economic growth, but only if a substantial proportion of the travelling public adopt different lifestyles.
• As the population grows older, transport must increasingly reflect the needs of elderly people for good access to services.
• Improved funding of rural local transport is required to address the social exclusion of people living in rural areas with restricted or no access to a car.
• Long term Government commitment to transport funding is needed with creation of legislative and financial frameworks to encourage sufficient private sector investment.
• Highway safety must be improved through high standards of design and maintenance, greater enforcement of traffic speed control and raising public awareness.

• The transport industry, professional bodies and policy makers must make greater efforts to address the shortage of transport planning and engineering skills

A full version of the IHT Transport Policy Statement is available here.