FTA welcomes transport investment
July 9, 2003

The Freight Transport Association has welcomed the motorway widening and other transport plans announced by Secretary of State Alistair Darling.

FTA says that the answer to the UK’s transport problem lies with a variety of measures designed to maximise the efficiency and performance of the roads infrastructure. Chief Executive Richard Turner says, ‘Making the movement of people and goods more efficient and less painful is surely a pre-requisite for life in the twenty-first century.

‘FTA has outlined five key actions required by government to improve the situation.

• Plan road user charging for all vehicles to balance supply and demand
• Take control of road delivery and highway performance to maximise safe capacity
• Invest in rail freight as a congestion by-pass for industry
• Deliver the short term fixables in order to improve capacity and deliver confidence in the long term
• Establish extra funding sources for transport infrastructure

‘Today’s announcements begin to deliver on FTA’s Transport Solutions agenda delivered to the Government last month.

‘The decision to conduct a feasibility study into the prospect of road user charging is timely - FTA says that rationing road space at the point of use is inevitable and it makes sense to investigate the prospect and methodology sooner than later.’

Last updated: Wed Jul 21 14:20:06 2004