Written evidence from the Light Rail Transit
Association (LRTA) (TE 38)
The Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA) was established
in 1937 by a group of people concerned about the proposed closures
of tramways in London. The Association has grown over the intervening
62 years into an international body with around 4,000 members
around the world, half outside the United Kingdom. Although the
LRTA's members come from all walks of life, they share a common
concern with the development of good quality public transport
through the use of light rail and tramways. Many are professionals
working in the transport industries. The Association's monthly
magazine, "Tramways & Urban Transit" is widely regarded
as essential reading around the world by those concerned with
the development, building, operation and use of light rail and
tramway systems.
The Association's objectives are to educate people
about light rail and modern tramways and to advocate the adoption
of such systems as core components of modern integrated transport
systems.
The Association is of the opinion that investment
in high quality urban public transport based on tramways and light
rail lines continues to be of the greatest importance for the
economic development of our cities and city regions even in these
times of financial stringency.
The Association would make the following responses
to the specific questions raised by the Select Committee.
Have the UK's economic conditions materially changed
since the Eddington Transport Study and, if so, does this affect
the relationship between transport spending and UK economic growth?
Any changes in economic conditions do not alter the
importance of investment in transport to economic recovery and
growth.
The Eddington Study emphasised the importance of
good urban transport systems in promoting economic growth of and
inward investment in cities, but placed too much reliance on the
ability of bus-based networks to achieve this. While not denying
the importance of the bus as a major component of urban transport
networks, research and experience in many cities overseas shows
that a core tram or light rail system is far more effective in
achieving modal shift away from the private car and generally
improving the urban environment. [1]
What type of transport spending should be prioritised,
in the context of an overall spending reduction, in order best
to support regional and national economic growth?
A balance needs to be kept between spending on national,
regional and local transport developments. The improvement of
local transport systems would best be advanced by giving cities
or city regions greater autonomy in the planning, development
and financing of transport schemes.
How should the balance between revenue and capital
expenditure be altered?
As far as urban transport is concerned, this again
would be best left to local decision making, though it is clear
from previous economic downturns that cuts in capital expenditure
are likely to inhibit the recovery process. Indeed, members of
the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, (CILT), believe
that transport spending that supports economic growth or reduces
congestion should be the key priority in the Government's Comprehensive
Spending Review. 75% of participating members identified "supporting
economic growth" as one of their top priorities where Government
spending should be protected.
Are the current methods for assessing proposed
transport schemes satisfactory?
While there have been recent improvements in the
formulae used by the Department for Transport in assessing schemes,
it is still widely felt in the industry that there is a considerable
bias against tram and light rail schemes. This was highlighted
in the National Audit Office Report [2] and more recently
in the Inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group [3].
How will schemes be planned in the absence of
regional bodies and following the revocation and abolition of
regional spatial strategies?
The erstwhile regional authorities covered large
areas and were probably not best suited to the planning of urban
transport systems. This would be better done on a city region
basis. A mechanism for this already exists in the Integrated Transport
Authorities and the setting up of such bodies in city regions
where they do not yet exist should be encouraged, alongside the
coalition government's plans for increasing emphasis on local
decision-making.
REFERENCES
1. Carmen Hass-Klau, Graham Crampton and Rabia
Benjari
The effect of trams and light rail on the economic
success of 15 cities in France, Germany, UK and Canada are studied
and detailed lessons drawn covering developments since the late
1970s. Environmental & Transport Planning, Brighton, England,
2004. ISBN 0 9519620 9 4
2. National Audit Office, Improving public transport
in England through light rail. 2004.
3. All-Party Parliamentary Light Rail. Light
rail & the city regions inquiry. PTEG, 2010.
September 2010
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