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Towards a Sustainable Transport System
- the implications for transport planners
Presentation to TPS Board
18 November 2008
Billy Parr
LB Waltham Forest
Outline
•
•
•
Timeline
Key messages from Eddington and Stern
Government response
•
Implications of the Government’s response
- Carbon reduction
- Road pricing
- New approach to transport planning
- Scheme assessment
- Future schemes
- Governance
- Job prospects
Timeline
Jul 05:
Dec 06:
Jan 08:
Autumn 08:
Stern
commissioned
Eddington Report
published
Interim
consultation
Full
consultation
Spring 09:
White Paper
Mar 05:
Oct 06:
Oct 07:
Jul 08:
Early 09:
Eddington
commissioned
Stern Review
published
TASTS
published
Progress
update
Green Paper
Stern
Key economics
The
messages of climate change
“Establishing a carbon price essential”
“Stabilisation of CO² emissions is feasible”
“Global cost of 1% of GDP per annum”
“… one of the most expensive sectors from
which to cut emissions”
Eddington
Key messages
Long-term
impacts of transport on economy
“Widespread road-user charging essential”
“Network broadly in the right places”
“Sophisticated policy mix”
“…focus on urban areas, international
“
…not
seduced
by
grands
projets
”
gateways and inter-urban corridors”
Government response
Towards a Sustainable Transport System (TASTS)
•
‘Rich and dirty’ or ‘poor and green’ is false dichotomy
•
Policy objectives rejigged, with ‘less carbon’ rising to second
•
Reasonable coverage of most issues……
……but lacking commitment in key areas?
Government response
Key areas
•
Supports carbon pricing
•
Adoption of long-term decision-making cycle….
•
…coupled with NATA refresh
•
Scope for new governance arrangements
•
Supports creation of IPC
Implications
In order of perceived importance
-
Carbon reduction
Road pricing
New approach to transport planning
Scheme assessment
Future schemes
Governance
Job prospects
Carbon reduction
Scale of challenge
•
Carbon pricing and reduction trajectories crucial
•
Inclusion of aviation in EU Emissions Trading scheme
•
Need to factor carbon into decision making process
•
Currently lack of clarity over weighting of goals
Road pricing
Significant discrepancy
• Eddington advocates widespread scheme by 2015….
……but DfT focus still on local ‘pilot’ schemes
•
Anti-road pricing petition a factor in this?
Consequences
• Lack of clear direction for transport planners
•
Onus for developing schemes remains at local level
•
Reconciliation issues
New approach to planning
Consequences
• Funding restricted to only the most worthwhile schemes?
•
Linked to IPC, timely and resource efficient decision making?
Assessment
Need to ‘listen to the numbers’
• NATA refresh
•
Monetisation of full economic and carbon-related impacts likely
to feature highly
However
• Increasing complexity of assessment and appraisal?
•
Loose commitment to NATA lite
Future schemes
DfT support for Eddington’s take on small scale schemes
•
Uncertain future for High Speed Rail
Governance
Potential reform of governance arrangements
• Creation of Integrated Transport Authorities
•
Extension of existing PTA powers and remit
ITA powers
Bus quality
contracts
Highway
maintenance
Quality partnerships
Traffic calming
Bus priority
Local Transport
Plans
Strategic road and
rail powers
However
• Lack of commitment in TASTS means that the benefits of ITAs
may never be fully realised
Job prospects
•
Additional workload as a result of more rigorous NATA
framework?
•
Need for development of new skills?
•
Possible reshuffle of public sector structures?
Conclusion
•
TASTS will have some positive implications
•
Lack of detail and commitment in key areas such as road
pricing
•
Unless rectified by time of next White Paper, significant
difficulties for transport planners as a result
•
Biggest single issue going forward will be the need to reduce
transport-related carbon emissions
Thank you for listening
Any questions?
[email protected]