Transport Planning at a Crossroads?

I, like many transport planners, start 2024 in a rather confused state. It seems to me that my profession has never been so disjointed.

 

On the one hand, the past year brought us a nationwide 20mph default speed limit in Wales, significant investment in Bus Service Improvement Plans and the implementation of the controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone in London. It also brought us an exciting new Circular from the Department for Transport trumpeting the end of ‘predict and provide’ policies and extolling the virtues of Green Travel Plans over highway capacity improvements.

 

On the other, the Prime Minister unveiled his ‘Plan for Drivers’, scrapped the flagship High Speed 2 rail project and pledged to challenge the ‘draconian’ introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in many of our towns and cities.

 

So where do we go from here?

 

Ultimately – like much of our national political discourse in this General Election year – the recent pronouncements from Number 10 reflect short-term points-scoring and gamesmanship. The Conservatives sensed blood after clinging on to Boris Johnson’s seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip off the back of anti-ULEZ sentiment and have chosen the fabled ‘war on the motorist’ as one of their dividing lines with Labour. Expect similar pro-car announcements and measures in the Spring Budget.

 

Yet in the cold light of day, we all know that the shift away from car-dependent development and infrastructure planning founded on predict and provide principles must continue. And whoever finds themself holding the keys to Downing Street after this year’s poll, I am confident that it will do. As planning professionals and passionate place makers therefore, it is vital that we don’t give in to short-termism and we hold the course towards a more walkable, cyclable and liveable net zero future. Our grandchildren are our electorate…”