The Scottish Government has published its blueprint for future transport investment. The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) makes 45 recommendations under six key themes which seek to make transport in Scotland more sustainable and support people to make better, more informed choices on when it comes to travel. The Scottish Government said that changes and measures are aimed at helping to make the country fairer and greener by tackling tackle climate change, reducing inequalities and improving health and wellbeing.
The recommendations include:
- Mass transit in the country’s biggest city regions of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen: The rail-based Clyde Metro promises to better connect over 1.5 million people in the Glasgow city region, whilst plans for Edinburgh & South East Scotland Mass Transit and Aberdeen Rapid Transit will also be developed;
- Continuing investment in ferry renewals, improving port infrastructure and connections from ferry terminals to other types of public transport to reduce car reliance, as well as enhancing island connectivity and making safety improvements on rural trunk roads where accident rates and severities are typically higher;
- Decarbonisation of public transport: Transport is Scotland’s biggest carbon emitter and the recommendations emphasise decarbonisation and behaviour change for ferries and rail as well as the ongoing switch to alternative energy sources for buses, alongside increasing the shift to zero emission vehicles, and;
- Encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle more often.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson said: “The investment decisions we make now have never been more important. A green recovery from Covid-19 will set us on a path to delivering a fair and just transition to Net Zero. The pandemic has led to fundamental shifts in travel behaviours and we want to ensure that people continue to make sustainable travel choices, that they return to public transport and our economic recovery does not overly rely on road-based travel. The STPR2 recommendations support the measures set out last week in our route map to reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030 and represent a major piece of work by this Government to make Scotland – all of Scotland – more sustainable. This review represents a repositioning of our transport investment priorities – the focus is firmly on how transport can help us protect our climate and improve lives. It takes a balanced and fair approach to all modes of transport, and all areas of Scotland. The recommendations set out in STPR2 will help deliver the four priorities of our National Transport Strategy – reducing inequalities; taking climate action; helping deliver inclusive economic growth; and improving our health and well-being. They’ll now go out for consultation and I urge individuals, community groups, businesses and public and third sector organisations to share their views with us so that together we can shape a transport system fit for a healthy, fair and green future.”
