UK TRANSPORT POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN 1991: ENVIRONMENTAL RELEVANCE

This paper considers some important UK transport policy changes that have environmental significance. Based on the foci of current debate, seven policy areas are chosen for this review: (1) the British Government's broad attitude to management, ownership and the current aims of transport infrastructure, which strongly favours bus deregulation and advocates rail privatisation; (2) the relative balance of future transport investment in road and rail infrastructure, with ambiguous signs of some shift towards rail; (3) providing adequate urban public transport, and the relative roles of buses and light railways, the main issue being how much funding and priority can be made available; (4) the general environmental quality of urban areas, especially for residents and shoppers, where there are several major initiatives by central and local government, some controversial; (5) environmental protection, especially by direct reduction of polluting emissions but also by using more efficient travel modes; (6) road safety, where there seems to be a tacit complacency about the high levels of accidents, but where quality of life and environmental aspects are evident; and (7) road pricing to reduce congestion, whose impetus for implementation continues to grow, but whose routine use is still some years ahead and whose major barrier still seems to be widespread lack of acceptance. See also IRRD 859559.