Regional transport strategy
The Transport (Wales) Act 2006 made provision for a new transport planning system that will replace the first generation of Local Transport Plans (LTPs), prepared by each local authority, with Regional Transport Plans (RTPs) produced by the four regional transport consortia in Wales. Cardiff Council is one of 10 authorities in the South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta). Sewta has set out a vision of “a modern, integrated and sustainable transport system for South East Wales that increases opportunity, promotes prosperity and protects the environment; where public transport, walking, cycling and sustainable freight provide real travel alternatives”.
Sewta was required to produce an Outline RTP by January 2007. This forms the basis of the draft RTP and highlights the priorities, key statistics, objectives, Strategic Environmental Assessment, choices for the future, possible actions, monitoring and implementation plan. The Outline Plan identifies critical success factors for transport planning:
- Effective interaction between different planning processes, notably the Wales Spatial Plan and other Assembly policy processes, the Local Development Plans of the 10 Sewta local authorities, and the RTP.
- A consistent willingness to attack the twin problems of climate change caused by carbon emissions from transport and traffic congestion by means other than building new roads.
- Identifying new funding streams, which are likely to include substantially increased planning obligations and pricing for road use.
- A revised and stronger planning framework that genuinely integrates transport and land use.
- A new attitude to the delivery of public services for which transport is an important feature but not a direct responsibility.
- Revision of the contractual arrangement between the public sector and transport operators to reflect much higher levels of investment in public transport.
- Local authorities responding positively to the need to manage their own revenue responsibilities, mindful of their impact on the regional transport system.
The next step in the process is the production of the draft RTP in March 2008 and will concentrate on five main areas:
- A re-statement of Sewta’s vision, priorities and objectives, and the reasons for adopting them;
- The production of a costed, firm, five-year programme of capital projects for all modes of transport;
- A longer term outline programme of likely capital investment;
- A set of policies related to transportation which will set standards and protocols aimed at improving the regional transport system (interpretation of these policies will remain a matter for each Council); and,
- Changes to the fiscal, economic and planning framework within which the plan will be implemented, to allow effective delivery.
The draft Regional Transport Plan will need to be consistent with the Wales Transport Strategy, (and also the WelTAG (Welsh Transport Planning and Appraisal Guidance) appraisal guidance for transport proposals, due in 2007. This has caused some uncertainty regarding the development of the draft Regional Transport Plan. The indicative timescales set by WAG are that draft RTPs are to be produced by March 2008 and final RTPS by March 2009.
