3
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Strategic road investment
Acknowledged
In our recent report on Implementation of the National Bus Strategy we recommended that a debate needs to be had about whether the Department for Transport should introduce a target to reduce car usage in England by the end of the decade, such as those seen in Scotland and Wales. …
Read more
In our recent report on Implementation of the National Bus Strategy we recommended that a debate needs to be had about whether the Department for Transport should introduce a target to reduce car usage in England by the end of the decade, such as those seen in Scotland and Wales. Understanding the impact of reducing or maintaining traffic on the SRN would inform this debate.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government stated it agrees with the recommendation that a debate is needed on introducing a car usage reduction target for England. However, the response then outlined existing investment in strategic road network maintenance and upgrades, without specifying how the debate would be facilitated or …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
9
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Strategic road investment
Acknowledged
Throughout RIS 1 and 2, there has been a consistent theme of overly ambitious portfolio planning, and National Highways has overspent and underdelivered. Despite delays in RIS 1, an even more ambitious portfolio was chosen for RIS 2. Schemes have been consistently pushed back into the following RIS portfolio, and …
Read more
Throughout RIS 1 and 2, there has been a consistent theme of overly ambitious portfolio planning, and National Highways has overspent and underdelivered. Despite delays in RIS 1, an even more ambitious portfolio was chosen for RIS 2. Schemes have been consistently pushed back into the following RIS portfolio, and some projects initially planned for RIS 3 (2025–30) have already been pushed back to RIS 4. Rather than the efficiency and certainty which road periods were meant to introduce, this has led to confusion and uncertainty. While current inflationary costs were unexpected, changes to the smart motorways programme and legal challenges to projects on environmental grounds could have been better anticipated given longstanding criticisms.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the recommendation, stating that deliverability is assessed when setting a RIS and that the ORR has an important role in the process. They highlight actions taken to manage RIS2, including increased staffing and lessons learned from RIS1, and state that they continue …
Read full response →
Department for Transport