Friday, October 3 2008
Two consultancies that specialise in strategic transport advice have been commissioned to assist in identifying the East of England region’s transport investment priorities through to 2018/19.
MRC McLean Hazel and JMP have been appointed by a partnership of the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), and the East of England Regional Transport Forum
They will identify and test a methodology for prioritising transport in support of EERA and EEDA’s advice to government under the Regional Funding Allocation (Transport) programme. This work will build upon initial advice provided from the region in 2006, and will develop the thinking from EEDA’s recently published transport economic evidence study (TEES).
The East of England is one of the largest English regions and a key element in its future is the management of growth-related investment and travel demand so that the projected growth in homes and jobs is sustainable.
The region’s plans identify the need for 508,000 new homes to be built between 2001 and 2021, supported by planned growth in employment in the region of 452,000 additional jobs in the period to 2021.
With the region stretching from the fringes of London to the Norfolk coast in the north, its largely rural nature and low population density has led to long distance commuting and a higher rate of travel per head than any other region in the country.
Consequently, there is significant congestion within many of the region’s urban areas and on its strategic road network. Furthermore, there is major overcrowding on the rail routes into London.
According to the Regional Economic Strategy the private sector constantly identifies failings in the transport infrastructure as a key constraint in improving productivity.
In developing the new method of prioritisation MRC McLean Hazel and JMP will apply it to potential schemes and interventions and work closely with regional stakeholders to ultimately achieve consent to the identified priority investment programme.