The Transport Planning Society calls on government to reform transport funding ahead of the Autumn budget

In a new report, Transport Planning for a Sustainable Future, the Transport Planning Society (TPS) has urged government to streamline and simplify transport funding and taxation.

The report, published on 14^th November at a special event at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London to mark the Society’s 5^th annual Transport Planning Day, encourages the UK government to explore additional powers for local and devolved authorities to raise money for transport.

The research expands on the Society’s 2020 State of the Nation report, which made key recommendations for achieving a low carbon transport system and highlighted the challenges the pandemic had posed for the transport planning profession.

Report author, Professor Stephen Joseph, from the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“The update highlights the twin challenges of decarbonising transport and tackling the cost of living crisis, and the different ways the four UK nations are addressing these challenges.

“For example, Wales is reviewing its road building programme, Scotland has a target for cutting car mileage by 20% to meet its climate change strategy and Northern Ireland has frozen public transport fares, while the UK Government has set up Active Travel England and is piloting fares cuts in Cornwall.

“The UK Government needs to streamline transport funding and also look at reforming vehicle taxation, potentially abolishing fuel duty and replacing it with a road user mileage charge. Our transport system needs future proofing, and this report suggests ways to do this.”

Speaking at the Transport Planning Day event, Martin Tugwell Chief Executive of Transport for the North said:

“Planning the future of our transport network needs to be out-come focused, place-based and user-centred if we are to meet the challenges of the future.

“We need to invest in people so we have the skills necessary, we need to simplify funding streams to make it easier to deliver, and we need to greater devolution so as to empower decision makers in their communities to deliver.”

Rhiannon Hardiman, Change Maker at the Future Generations Office for Wales, said:

“A future-proofed transport system supports all four dimensions of well-being – economic, environmental, social and cultural.

“It is for today’s planners and decision makers to shape the future that we want, not one based on old solutions that are no longer fit for purpose.”

Mark Frost, Chair of The Transport Planning Society, said:

"If we are to successfully develop our transport assets to meet the needs of tomorrow it's essential we get diverse perspectives into our decision-making processes.

“It was great to hear first hand about how we can do that via our intergenerational panel.

“It's clear we need to increase the breadth of those working in the sector, but it’s also vital for all transport planners to practice good allyship for those voices that aren't in the room.

Transport Planning Day is the flagship event run by the Transport Planning Society to highlight the role of transport planning in improving everyday life.

The theme for this year’s campaign, ‘Future Proofing Transport’, was chosen because the drastic effects of the pandemic have changed the way we travel. The way we plan transport for the future needs to reflect that and prepare us for future threats.

The hybrid event brought together industry leaders, academics and young professionals from across the UK to celebrate best practice.  

The day was split into two sessions followed by a networking reception in the evening, and was also livestreamed to viewers online.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. The Transport Planning Society is the only professional body focusing entirely on transport planning in the UK. You can find out more about TPS here: https://tps.org.uk/    
2. The Transport Planning Society celebrate Transport Planning Day every year to raise awareness of the role transport planning has in changing people’s lives as well as showcasing fantastic examples of best practice from across the profession. Our theme for this year’s Transport Planning Day is Future Proofing transport. You can find out more about the campaign here: https://tps.org.uk/transport-planning-day-and-campaign/transport-planning-day-2022
3. The Transport Planning Society’s State of the Nations update can be found here: https://tps.org.uk/tps-policy/state-of-the-nations-update-2022
4. Transport Planning Day 2022 was sponsored by Steer, Jacobs, Compass IoT, Mayer Brown, Arup, Charge Surveys, Advanced Transport Research, Teralytics, Stantec, Veitch Lister Consulting and Kestrel Surveys.
5. Stephen Joseph, author of the State of the Nations update, is available for comment on request
6. Mark Frost, Chair of TPS, is available for comment upon request    
7. For further information contact: Alex Bennett (alex@jfgcomms.co.uk, Tel:07445 361254)
8. Follow TPS on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn