Blog ARCHIVE
What to expect from 2024
2023 was a bit of a rollercoaster with transport decisions often making the headlines. Sadly, forward thinking decisions were far and few between. The £2 bus fare cap stands out as one of very few highs. Instead depressing decisions and unannounced u-turns were delivered regularly throughout the year. So much...
2023 Transport review – Part 3
Autumn of 2023 In this final part of our review of the year, we focus on the final months of 2023. Read part one of our review here and part two here. Part 3: September to December 2023 September 2023 A default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads was introduced...
Transport review 2023 – Part 2
The Summer of 2023 We look back at the summer of 2023 in this second of our three part review of the year. Missed part one? You can read about what happened in the first four months of 2023 here. Part 2: May to August 2023 May 2023 The Road...
DfT silent on new delay to A358 dualling scheme
Highways Magazine: The Department for Transport (DfT) has shelved one of its three flagship road schemes for the A303 corridor but has declined to provide any explanation. National Highways' A358 Taunton to Southfields scheme was first put forward in the first (2015-20) Road Investment Strategy but has suffered repeated delays....
Our transport review of 2023
2023: What a year! In years to come, 2023 will be remembered as the year of missed opportunities, when healthier travel choices were bypassed for more roads. With more people cycling and walking during the pandemic, this was the perfect time to lock in that improvement. Instead the Government opted...
Transport secretary delays DCO decision on £1.3bn A66 upgrade by four months
New Civil Engineer: Transport secretary delays DCO decision on £1.3bn A66 upgrade by four months Transport secretary Mark Harper has pushed back the decision on granting a development consent order (DCO) for the £1.3bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine by four months. The deadline for deciding whether to give National Highways’ major...
The Journey to 20mph in Wales
A Brief Look at the History and Development of 20mph Speed Limits in Wales In September, Wales made a bold step towards a safer and more sustainable future by becoming the first nation in the UK to introduce a default 20mph speed limit in residential areas. This marked a significant...
Healthy Travel Choices Can Improve Road Safety
Healthy travel choices for all means everyone has options in how they travel for different journeys. It does not mean being forced to travel in a particular way. Taking this approach would benefit everyone. For people who walk, wheel, cycle and use public transport (or those who want to) for...
Boost welcome but massive pothole still left in maintenance budget
Boost welcome but massive pothole still left in maintenance budget Reacting to the Government’s announcement of a £8.3bn boost to local roads maintenance [1], as a result of its reallocation of money after cancelling HS2 north of Birmingham (Network North announcement), Chris Todd, director of Transport Action Network said: “While...
Planning wrongly attacked for road delays
Once again, the Secretary of State has delayed his decision on granting planning permission for a major road scheme, this time the £1.5 billion A66 Northern Trans Pennine. He has said he will decide by 7 March 2024, pushing it closer to the general election next year. Transport Action Network...
Statement on the postponement of the A66 Northern Trans Pennine
Transport Action Network statement on the postponement of the A66 Northern Trans Pennine Responding to the Government delaying a decision on the £1.5 billion A66 Northern Trans Pennine [1] until 7 March 2024 [2], Transport Action Network’s roads and climate campaigner Rebecca Lush said: “Unsurprisingly, the Secretary of State is...
High Court grants legal challenge to government’s cycling funding cuts
road.cc: High Court grants legal challenge to government’s cycling funding cuts – as ministers forced to concede they were aware of “devastating” impact of decision to slash active travel budget The Department for Transport’s decision earlier this year to slash the budget for cycling and walking schemes in England by...
Government ducks responsibility in decarbonising transport
Government ducks responsibility in decarbonising transport Transport Action Network (TAN) has called the Government’s response [1] to the Climate Change Committee’s latest progress report [2], published in June, “underwhelming”. It is concerned that the response reveals that the Government isn’t tackling climate change with the urgency it requires. Recommendations effectively...
High Court orders Government to answer on walking and cycling funding cuts
A High Court judge today (26 October) has granted permission for campaigners to judicially review the Department for Transport’s (DfT) decision to slash funding [1] for walking and cycling by 75% [2]. Lawyers for Transport Action Network [3] argued that ministers made the decision oblivious to legal requirements. In particular,...
TAN vindicated on inadequate roads policy
In the aftermath of Rishi Sunak’s cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham, there’s a lot of change and uncertainty. While the Department for Transport (DfT) tries to make sense of this, three important reports were published. 1. National Infrastructure Assessment The first was the Second National Infrastructure Assessment, published by...
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