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Strategic road investment

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Dec 2022 Closed: 29 Feb 2024 7 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

The strategic road network in England comprises more than 4,300 miles of motorways and major A-roads. The Department for Transport plans improvements to these roads through five-year road investment strategies, and sets priorities for the strategic road network. This inquiry will look into how well the current Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) is being managed, and …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Strategic road investment HC 904 27 Jul 2023 14 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
2 Conclusion Sixth Report - Strategic road investment Accepted

Risky strategy accommodating road demand without managing it, hindering transport decarbonisation

Transport remains the biggest greenhouse gas contributor in the UK and the Government’s strategy for decarbonising transport by 2050 is reliant on a rapid switch to zero emissions vehicles. However, in all future scenarios modelled by the Department for Transport, traffic on the Strategic Road Network is forecast to increase, …

Government response. The government partially agreed, outlining its credible strategies for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including a planned zero emission HGV infrastructure strategy for 2024, and work on hydrogen refuelling stations, but did not explicitly address managing demand for …
Department for Transport
6 Recommendation Sixth Report - Strategic road investment Accepted

Provide credible strategy and milestone targets for SRN future vehicle fuel infrastructure

The Government must provide a credible strategy which sets out how the SRN will meet the fuel needs of the future vehicle fleet, including for freight, and provide milestone targets for delivering infrastructure to do so. (Paragraph 26) Meeting user priorities

Government response. The government partially agrees, explaining its existing use of experts like the ORR and IPA in developing and scrutinising Road Investment Strategies. It states that existing plans are in place to mitigate risks to project delivery, but does not commit …
Department for Transport
7 Conclusion Sixth Report - Strategic road investment Accepted

Prioritise investment in maintaining, renewing, and enhancing existing Strategic Road Network assets

The existing Strategic Road Network is ageing and requires significant renewal work in places, while many users want to see better day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the network. Future investment should be focused on renewing older parts of the SRN and ensuring that resources are available to run the network …

Government response. The government notes the recommendation, describing its existing engagement with Sub-national Transport Bodies and National Highways' current license requirements regarding stakeholder views for investment priorities. It does not commit to prioritising maintenance and renewal over new projects in future Road …
Department for Transport
13 Conclusion Sixth Report - Strategic road investment Accepted

Simplify and make more accessible the reporting on RIS portfolio delivery progress

Understanding and scrutinising the delivery progress of a RIS portfolio, or given project is not simple. It involves cross-referencing several annual reporting documents from National Highways and the Office of Rail and Road which are not updated with changes made in the interim. This is not accessible or transparent, especially …

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation and will work with National Highways and the ORR to explore the opportunity for more frequent public project reporting in one place, while acknowledging that a genuinely 'live' update system is not practical.
Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Mar 2023 Darren Oldham · Transport for the North, Emma Ward CBE · Department for Transport, Kate Cohen · Department for Transport, Maria Machancoses · Midlands Connect, Mrs Naomi Green · England's Economic Heartland, Richard Holden MP · Department for Transport View ↗
1 Mar 2023 Edmund King · The AA, Guy Dangerfield · Transport Focus, Jonathan Walker · Logistics UK, Lisa Hopkinson · Transport for Quality of Life, Professor Glenn Lyons · University of the West of England, Ralph Smyth · Transport Action Network, Sharon Kindleysides · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport View ↗
1 Feb 2023 Dame Bernadette Kelly DCB · Department for Transport, Emma Ward · Department for Transport, Nick Harris · National Highways View ↗

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Jun 2023 — Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, relating to pla…
19 Apr 2023 — Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Roads, Department for…
29 Mar 2023 — Correspondence from the Chair of the Transport to the Chief Executive, National…
29 Mar 2023 — Correspondence from the Chief Executive, National Highways, relating to strateg…
1 Mar 2023 — Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, relating…