Additional Targets
126. The Sub-Committee received many suggestions
for additional targets, which reflects progress towards reducing
the need to travel, as opposed to the ease of travelling further.
British workers spend, an average of 46 minutes day commuting
to work more than their European counterparts. Almost
nine out of ten motorised journeys are made by car, compared to
a European average of eight. The Plan contains very little to
suggest that it will tackle these trends and contribute towards
urban regeneration and healthier lifestyles.[286]
It is also unclear about how large increases in traffic will affect
local quality of life.[287]
It is clear, and logical, that targets strongly dictate the direction
of the Plan. However, a failure to incorporate a full range of
targets that reflects all aspects of the negative impact of traffic
will lead to important elements of the integrated transport strategy
being neglected. The Plan must contain targets to enable the
assessment of progress towards a more sustainable system with
reduced commuting lengths and increased mode share for public
transport, cycling and walking.
Table 7
SUMMARY OF
10 YEAR PLAN
TARGETS
Area | Target
| Committee Conclusions and Comments |
Congestion | Reduce congestion on the inter-urban road network and in large urban areas by 2010
|
- Congestion indicator is inadequate and must be re-examined
- Reliability must be included
|
Pollution | Improve air quality
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5%
|
- Contribution required from the Plan is vague
|
Traffic Levels | No target set
|
- A target is required that reflects quality of life concerns
|
Passenger rail | 50% growth in passenger kilometres by 2010
Overcrowding reduced to SRA standards by 2010
Punctuality and reliability improved
|
- A national target for growth in passenger kilometres may not be appropriate and lacked consensus
- Additional regional targets may be required
|
Rail freight | 80% increase in rail freight
|
- Additional targets for growth in different sectors may be appropriate
|
Bus | Increase bus journeys in England by 10% by 2010
|
- Insufficiently challenging
- Separate targets for London and other areas are required
|
Coaches | No target |
|
Walking | No target |
|
Cycling | Triple cycle use by 2010
|
- Target for doubling use has been withdrawn
|
Motorcycles | No target |
- Target required to enable growth to be managed safely
|
Safety | Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured by 40% overall and 50% for children
|
- Target not matched by detail in the Plan
|
Regional differences
127. The evidence received has also highlighted the difficulty
of having national targets when great differences exist in economic
and transport conditions between geographic areas. There was widespread
support for the adoption of regional targets that reflected the
different contributions required across the country to meet the
Plan's objectives.[288]
The Department has said that it expects local and regional targets
to be set at a local level, which is sensible.[289]
However, the targets within the Local Transport Plans are not
consistent between areas[290]
and it is not clear that the multi-modal studies will produce
consistent outcomes. It is therefore currently too difficult to
assess whether the targets in the 10 Year Plan are an adequate
reflection of the sum of its parts. Much of the success of the
Plan depends on action at a local level. It is not clear whether
all of the local improvements will deliver the change required.[291]
The top-down approach to target setting is not always appropriate.
The Department should develop regional targets based on analysis
of Local Transport Plans and Regional Transport Strategies.
272
TYP28. Back
273
Q611. Back
274
The baseline indicators are included as TYP28A. Back
275
TYP59. Back
276
Guidance on the second Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Reports,
Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, April
2002. Back
277
Delivery of Improvements over the Life of the Plan, Department
of Transport Local Government and the Regions, reprinted in HC
(1999-2000) 726-I. Back
278
TYP28C. Back
279
Bus reliability and bus fleet age targets were set for July 2001
(4 months into the Plan) and a target to halt the deterioration
of local road condition by 2004 was also included. Back
280
TYP56, TYP53. Back
281
Long-distance coaches have a similar market share to rail between
75 and 30 miles. Transport 2010, The 10 Year Plan, p54. Back
282
TYP12, TYP35. Back
283
TYP37. Back
284
TYP41. Back
285
Transport 2010: The 10 Year Plan, p101. Back
286
Q480, Q482. Back
287
Q598. Back
288
TYP26, TYP31, TYP34, TYP37, TYP44, TYP56. Back
289
TYP28. Back
290
The Local Transport Plan Submissions, RAC Foundation, February
2001. Back
291
Q892. Back