The government needs to be honest about the level of performance that it expects from the UK’s transport infrastructure, according to the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) president John Allan.
Allan made the remarks in his opening address at the FTA Freight Summit 2004. He said: “The FTA is not prepared to contemplate a cutback in the objectives of the government’s 10-year plan, nor to stand back while its promises and targets are scaled back to equate them with the amount of money that is currently available. The costs and consequences of a gridlocked road and rail network simply cannot be contemplated in the world’s fourth largest economy.”
Allan highlighted that the FTA has presented the government with key objectives that the revised 10-year plan must deliver. Allan said: Can it be sensible for the UK to endure daily congestion on its key trade routes? Whatever else we do, and certainly before we consider the road pricing option, we must prioritise the widening of all our key trade routes.”
Allan also stressed that for a meaningful end to congestion road user charging had to be considered for all road users. “Confronting all drivers with the costs of each journey, holds the best prospect of actually managing how and when journeys are made,” he said.
The FTA president also called for the government to find new ways of financing its investments in infrastructure. “Why is investment in the nation’s road and rail assets which have a life time of 30 years, having to compete with short-term funding,” he said. “Just as a homeowner would not attempt to fund a house extension out of the housekeeping money, the government needs to find new ways.”
Allan commented that the FTA will now be championing what is needed and financial honesty is required. “Our vision of the future is derived from the economic necessity and desirability, not of transport but of a thriving growing economy,” he said. We must translate the vision into reality, and beat the challenge of cost.”