In February 1989, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund commissioned a two year study of the longer term problems and prospects for transport policy, for which the Transport Studies Unit at Oxford University, is the coordinating centre. There is a considerable imbalance in the author's view between expected trends in mobility and the capacity of the transport system. This is causing problems to industry and to the environment, also to the ability of people to lead comfortable and fulfilling lives. The main problem is the growth in reliance on car use, which does not succeed in realising its own objectives. It is not possible to provide sufficient road capacity to meet unrestrained demands for movement. It is necessary to devise systems of managing demand which are economically efficient, provide attractive possibilities for travel for both car owners and non-car owners, and give priority to 'essential' traffic (including emergency services, freight, buses and limited categories of need). Policies to accomplish this are technically possible, provided they are properly coordinated. This will include land use planning, road improvements (including some, but not much, extra capacity), extensive use of traffic management especially priority systems, substantial public transport improvements, traffic calming schemes both at the local and strategic level, and consistent charging and financing of all modes preferably by road pricing. Institutional arrangements must enable a coordinated and consistent treatment of all the different parts of the transport system, and a 'level playing field' in planning and implementation.
Samenvatting