DRIVERS SHAPING FUTURE INTEGRATED TRANSPORT

摘要

Future transport policy seeks to provide a better, more integrated transport system to tackle congestion and pollution. In this context "better" encompasses a wide range of objectives relating to cost, convenience and choice, support of the economy, safety and environmental impacts. The delivery of expectations of a "better" transport systems will require that effective decisions are made at the policy, project and individual level that can balance between competing objectives. The need for "better appraisal" is identified. In response, policy options appraisal is increasingly using sophisticated analyses to evaluate the risks, costs and benefits associated with policy decisions. Allied to improved decision-making protocols, this can help achieve improved balances between different objectives. However, case study experience suggests that decision-making at the project level may sometimes be constrained by limited and prescriptive guidance that fails to take on board the broader objectives of policy and the need to balance with other factors. It may be preferable to adopt an objectives-based rather than prescriptive approach. At the individual level, initiatives to change behaviour are being established in attempts to ensure that people at large make decisions that contribute to delivery of a better system. For example, the UK Government "Best Practice Programme" promotes a better understanding of these issues and is now addressing "Green Transport Plans". These are co-ordinated measures introduced by an organisation to reduce the environmental impacts of their transport activities.