This paper presents an assessment of the effects on Oxfordshire, England of the Department of Transport's National Road Traffic Forecast, and of the road improvements required to provide sufficient road capacity to meet unrestrained traffic demand. Assessments of likely demand up to the year 2022 confirm Oxfordshire County Council's view that it would be infeasible to provide the required improvements. The Council thus faces some difficult choices. For example, it has been put in a difficult situation by published proposals to extend a major Trans-European Road Netwrok (TERN) route from the east coast of England to Oxford, which have caused a political dispute between the County and the UK Government. The evolution of these new strategic road proposals contrasts unfavourably with the development of the M40 motorway through Oxfordshire, which was established with complementary land use planning policies and full consultation about route options. The Council is continuing to press for full consultation about strategic corridor alternatives such as the proposed TERN road, and is urging the Government to pursue an integrated transport policy, that would address traffic demand management as well as road building.
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