This publication contains addresses given at the seminar held on 17th December 2001 on the progress made on the UK's 10-year Transport Plan. Lack of progress on this plan since its publication 18 months previous to the conference is noted. Maintenance of many roads except the main ones has deteriorated. Improving the road safety record, clearing trunk road incidents faster and road pricing are discussed in the introduction. Transport is considered key to the country's competitiveness and a main reason why a company will avoid relocating to the UK. Progress on the 10-year plan is described and a list of key decisions is given. Some road-based congestion-reducing measures relating to new road capacity and aspects of road management and financing are outlined. Decisions from the multi-modal studies have taken longer than expected. The UK freight system, its investment in logistics and the costs of congestion are described. Progress on road maintenance, including street lighting is described, including increased financing. The skills shortage is debated. Allocation of resources within the 10-year plan is debated in relation to the relentless increase in car use and cost benefit analysis of strategic road projects. The possibilities of using road pricing or road fuel taxes to pay for increased road construction is discussed. Speeding up transport projects, delays in the planning process, decision-making and skills shortages are considered key areas preventing the 10-year plan from reaching its targets.
Abstract