The Scottish Government aims to promote economic growth, social inclusion and sustainable development through a safe, integrated and efficient transport network.
The Government Economic Strategy (GES) makes clear that the Government's overarching purpose is to create a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. The key strategic approach to transport is:
- to focus investment on making connections across and within Scotland better, improving reliability and journey times, seeking to maximise the opportunities for employment, business, leisure and tourism; and.
- to provide sustainable, integrated and cost effective public transport alternatives to private car, connecting people, places and work, across Scotland.
The National Performance Framework identifies transport as an enabler and recognises the positive contribution transport has to make to maximising the opportunities for economic growth and contributing to the prosperity and quality of life of Scottish people. The national strategic transport network is expected to perform as a world class system where transport infrastructure underpins delivery of a wealthier and fairer, safer and stronger and greener Scotland. Transport can also help achieve a smarter and healthier Scotland through providing access to services and facilitating active travel.
Scotland's National Transport Strategy (NTS) provides an overarching strategy for transport and introduced three key strategic outcomes which respond directly to the Scottish Government's 5 key Strategic Objectives. The NTS commits transport infrastructure to deliver:
- Improved journey times and connections, to tackle congestion and the lack of integration and connections in transport that impact on the potential for continued and sustainable economic growth.
- Reduced emissions, to tackle the issues of climate change, air quality and health improvement.
- Improved quality, accessibility and affordability to give people a choice of public transport, where availability means better quality transport services and value for money or an alternative to the car.
In particular, information on the following is available:
- Roads, including Road Safety Guidance Circulars and Advisory Leaflets, Road Safety Business Plan and Strategy, Road Accident Statistics, Road Safety Research Publications. In addition, there is information on formerly tolled road bridges including a review of tolls and toll impact study, length of and traffic flows on local and trunk roads and bridges, buses and taxis delays due to congestion; vehicle licences; and driving licence pass rates.
- Parking Concessions for Disabled People (The Blue Badge Scheme), including information about the scheme, who may be eligible for a badge and how to apply. A leaflet on the scheme is available in large print, Braille and audio tape formats.
- Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) and Passenger Transport Users Committee for Scotland (PTUC) including information on Membership, Remit, and Minutes of Meetings.
- Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs), including contact information on individual RTPs, Membership, Legislation, Strategies and Guidance. A range of transport statistics is available by both Local Authority and by RTP. This includes the National Concessionary Fare Card scheme and travel to work mode.
- Sustainable Transport, including information on perceptions of public transport; statistics on individuals using active and public transport to work and education, frequency of walking and cycling; Home Zones; and Safe Routes to School.
- Freight Transport, including policy information on supporting the freight industry; freight grants available to encourage modal shift of freight from road to rail and water; details of individual freight grant awards including the name of each beneficiary, location, amount of grant awarded and number of lorry miles removed from Scotland's roads. Also freight statistics including freight grants; weight, type and distance travelled of waterborne freight; air freight; foreign and domestic freight at major ports; and cargo category and destination of rail and road freight.
- Aviation and Airports, including information on Air discount scheme usage and membership statistics, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and the Air Route Development Fund (RDF). Statistical information on passenger numbers and destination travelling on domestic and international routes; punctuality of flights at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
- Ferries, including information on lifeline ferry services, ferries information is also available through the publicly owned ferry operating and asset owning companies sponsored by the Scottish Government, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, CMAL, the four subsidiary companies under the David Mac Rayne group of companies including Calmat Ferries Limited and North Link Ferries Limited. We also hold information on ferries tendering exercises, evidence gathered in the development of Road Equivalent Tariff policy, ferry services, pier and harbours grants. Statistical information including reliability and punctuality of lifeline ferry services; the Road Equivalent Tariff; freight traffic; vehicle & passenger services between Scotland and Northern Ireland and Scotland and Europe; and the Piers and Harbours Grants programme.
- Canals, including information on canals policy and grant levels to support British Waterways in Scotland.
- Ports, including "Modern Ports", the UK policy framework published in 2000; navigational consents, including guidance and application form.
Where the information within this class can be located
This class of information can be located within the ' Transport' section of the Scottish Government website or through one of the alternative routes described under section 5 of this scheme.