THE RMT union has criticised a review of transport planning policy, warning that it shifts focus onto roads rather than railways. The National Policy Statement for National Networks was drawn up in 2014. Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said it needed to be re-examined because the shift towards online working and shopping is "unlikely to be reversed". The existing strategy was also published before new environmental targets were set. Shapps told MPs: "In the last 18 months, fundamental changes have occurred in commuting， shopping and business travel which, before the pandemic, made up 30% of all road journeys by distance." He added there had also been a "hopefully temporary" move away from public transport. Shapps said there could also be an increase in driving when electric and autonomous vehicles become more common. He stressed that high investment in roads will remain necessary, with more than half of the £27 billion programme for England's strategic roads earmarked for improvements to the existing network or to improve safety or the environment. The programme includes £2bn for a controversial scheme to bury the A303 past Stonehenge in a tunnel, as well as more smart motorways where the hard shoulder is converted to a fourth driving lane.
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