INTRODUCTION
This paper examines the transport aspects
of the powers currently shared between the National
Assembly for Wales and the UK Government / Westminster
Parliament.
One of the stated objectives of the National
Assembly and its executive arm the Welsh Assembly Government
is to create an integrated transport policy for Wales.
Set out here is the definition of such a policy , the
rationale for such a policy and the powers which require
to be transferred if such a policy is to be developed
by the National Assembly.
While the paper indicates several areas
where powers ought to be transferred, the primary area
of discussion in the transport context are powers in
relation to the railways in Wales.
To assist members of the Commission,
an Appendix
has been attached to the main submission in which three
aspects of transfer of powers in relation to the railways
are discussed.
|
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT POLICY
Definition
Considerable discussion has surrounded
this policy but what does it mean?
An Integrated Transport Policy examines four relationships:
- integration within and between different types of
transport - better and easier interchange between
car/bus/rail etc. with better information on services
and availability of integrated tickets. Thus it is
between public and private transport, between motorised
and non-motorised (walking, cycling) transport and
within public transport
- integration with the environment - considering the
effect of transport policies on the environment and
selecting the most environmentally friendly solution
whenever possible.
- integration with land use planning - to reduce the
need for travel and to ensure new developments can
be reached by public transport.
- integration with policies on social welfare, education,
health and wealth creation so that cross-cutting policies
on issues such as social inclusion, school travel,
cycling and walking, and the profitability of business
work together rather than against each other.
The preferred structure to achieve such
integration nationally, regionally or locally has three
prerequisites:-
a. a single policy and budgetary
authority at the strategic (geographic) level both
national and regional
b. a single co-ordinating body for
all modes of transport at the strategic (geographic)
level both national and regional
c. operational level co-ordinating
bodies to achieve seamless interchange between modes,
within modes, and between modes and land uses/human
activities. This relates to physical interface and
the provision of through ticketing.
While services in (c) may be provided
by contractors, (a) and (b) must involve a single body.
The parallel for such a system exists
in other member states of the European Union where high
investment levels, with co-ordination policies of services,
fares and infrastructure developments, may be found
in major centres as well as in local areas. The Regional
Councils of France have transport as a major policy
issue with their responsibility covering local railway
services (with SNCF) and for bus operations in the municipalities.
In Sweden regional public transport bodies run local
bus and rail services in a country with many rural areas,
a small population (8m) and a concentration of people
in a small part of the total land area. The Netherlands
has a national ticketing system for local public transport
(the Nationale Strippenkaart) and a national railway
service but with provinces being responsible for all
bus, rail and train-taxi services and for stations.
Track operations are retained by the State-owned Railned.
In Austria, the Land (equivalent to the consortia areas)
has responsibility within its areas for all local public
transport and land use planning and which link into
a national policy for rail services. Joint ticketing
exists on all services within the Land. The proposals
for Wales, equate in many ways to these, would be taken
further to the point where control and finance, policy
and service provision, though not necessarily all operations,
would be conducted by one national, and five associated
regional bodies based on the consortia.
|
