BREAKING NEWS 📢 Vote for us and we’ll ensure transport gets worse more slowly than the other parties. This was Phil Goodwin’s observation years ago on why transport does not tend to feature strongly at election time. Now, beyond addressing traffic congestion, there are bigger fish to fry.

So will the UK’s political parties give transport the attention it deserves as a general election looms, or will it be left as the elephant in the room?

Today, I’m proud to say, the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has launched its transport manifesto for the attention of our politicians. “A transport network fit for all our futures” speaks across six strategic objectives to the Institution’s three overarching themes that I hold dear: climate action; equality, diversity and inclusion; and professionalism. “A new clear and vision-led approach is now needed from politicians” it says, with the need “to be able to turn political ideas and ambitions into practical action.”

It’s short and clearly-structured – please take a look for yourself.

Here are some brief insights.

OUR TRANSPORT NETWORKS ARE RESILIENT: climate change impacts are inevitable so infrastructure maintenance should be at the forefront of our minds, with green and blue infrastructure “at the heart”.

THE TRANSPORT SECTOR DECARBONISES IN LINE WITH LEGALLY BINDING OBLIGATIONS: mindful of the “intertwined climate and nature emergencies” Government must “reaffirm commitments to the role of transport in rapid decarbonisation”, “demonstrate a clear a credible pathway to net zero” and “take action to address both transport supply and travel demand”. Significant biodiversity net gain it at hand if the large areas of land and open spaces owned by the transport network are harnessed.

EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY: Recognising and supporting the diversity of our society should be a basis to “support and promote the availability of local services and provide people with real choices and appropriate alternatives to private car use”.

EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL SAFELY AND FEEL SAFE: We need national leadership on addressing traffic speeds; and greater attention given to “people’s sense of vulnerability, which affects their travel choices and wellbeing”.

THERE IS A SKILLED WORKFORCE WITH THE CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY TO DELIVER: Ambitious changes need political leadership but they also need a skilled, professionally-motivated transport sector workforce, with investment needed in “a wider pool of people from a broader range of backgrounds to have professionals who are aware of the complex societal, environmental and economic challenges we face”.

FUNDING IS REPRIORITISED TO SUPPORT TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE DELIVERY: A rethink on funding and investment is called for with political commitment to a local roads investment strategy.

Sue Percy Daniel Isichei Karen McShane Neil Johnstone Bruce Connal