Government unveils new plan to improve roads… by encouraging you to stop driving

The Government has unveiled its ‘Better Connected’ strategy for UK transport. The multi-faceted plan aims to modernise mobility by making it greener, safer and more affordable, with a focus on encouraging people to step out of their cars and onto public transport.

As part of the proposal, the Department for Transport said: “To reduce the amount of congestion on roads, public transport should be the cheapest and most convenient option for the majority of local trips. For journeys that need a car, electric vehicles play a role in reducing emissions and improving local air quality.”

To make public transport more appealing, the Government highlights its priority to simplify payments for trains, trams and buses. The newly nationalised Great British Rail aims to do away with the necessity of split fares in order to get the cheapest possible ticket, while cities and local regions will be provided support with implementing pay-as-you-go and mobile offerings as alternatives to traditional contactless payments.

Additional funding will also be allocated to make journeys more reliable. Google Maps integration will eventually enable bus passengers to track exactly where their bus is as they wait, plus AI will be used to streamline and perfect timetables. Additionally, the Accessible Travel Charter will help ensure those with a disability or mobility restrictions get access to the transport they require, whether that’s via step-free access to platforms, or sufficient training for staff.

It’s hoped that changes such as these will encourage drivers to make greater usage of public transport which could then, in theory, push down prices as demand increases. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander MP, said that the goal was to create a network “that connects communities, that considers accessibility and safety by default and that gives people affordable choices over how they travel”.

Admittedly, the focus of the Better Connected strategy isn’t entirely on public transport; a greater emphasis will be placed on car sharing as not only a more sustainable means of transport, but also to reduce traffic on the roads. Guidance will be published for local authorities in order to further encourage the joining of car clubs, such as providing dedicated parking bays.

For those who cannot join a car club, previously-announced schemes such as the National Parking Platform aim to enable drivers to pay for parking anywhere using their preferred app, while an ongoing consultation into the price of public EV charging should bring down the cost of plugging in for those without a driveway. A £600 million investment in electric car charger infrastructure should make it easier to access a chargepoint, too.

The Government also plans to continue to invest in repairing Britain’s crumbling roads; in March the Department for Transport confirmed a £27 billion investment into the motorways and major roads that form the Strategic Road Network, while by 2029 the aim is to provide £2 billion per year for pothole repairs.

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