Delivering a Sustainable Transport System
This study has helped to inform the Region’s response to the Government's ‘Delivering a Sustainable Transport System’ consultation. This element of the DaSTS process is not about identifying and prioritising specific transport schemes but is focused on identifying and prioritising the challenges the Region faces in the post-2014 period within the context of a 30 year forward-look.
Delivering a Sustainable Transport System (DaSTS), published by the Department for Transport in November 2008, advocates a new approach to planning for transport interventions beyond 2014, in which five national goals for transport have been identified, and a programme of transport solutions is required to directly address challenges arising within the context of these goals. The five Department for Transport (DfT) national goals for transport are:
- Supporting economic growth
- Tackling climate change
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Better safety, security and health
- Improving quality of life
The development of a national DaSTS programme will be taken forward on three levels (‘Cities and Regional Networks’, ‘National Networks’ and ‘International Networks’). The task proposed for regions is to take forward the ‘Cities and Regional Networks’ strand. Components of this regional work include:
- Stage 1: Agreeing regional strategic priorities and work programme (June 09)
- Stage 2: Generating options to address the five goals in the region (Dec 10)
- Stage 3: Sifting and packaging options (Dec 10 onwards)
- Stage 4: Deciding on overall programme for the region (Dec 11)
The work undertaken by MRC McLean Hazel and JMP has assisted the region in completing Stage 1. In undertaking this assignment, the consultancy support complies with the requirements set out in the DfT’s DaSTS documents.
As part of this study the consultants carried out research to establish the evidence base that exists for the Region in relation to the 5 areas identified by the DfT. This document outlines the broad strategic challenge (transport-agnostic) facing the East of England and the evidence that underpins them.