This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister sets out vision for transport
15/10/2003
Over £3 billion is to be spent over the next ten years on the biggest integrated package of transport infrastructure investment Scotland has ever seen, a conference was told today.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen set out the Executive's vision for Scotland's transport in the opening speech of the first ever Scottish National Transport Awards Conference at the Moat House Hotel in Glasgow.
Mr Stephen said:
"Research shows that 80 per cent of motorists could use a different type of transport instead of the car, with 30 per cent who would like to use their car less.
"We must encourage more people to use public transport and we must tackle increasing congestion and the negative impacts created by more and more car journeys.
"Transport underpins our ability to deliver better services such as health, education and leisure. We must create the conditions so that businesses can thrive so that the economy benefits us all.
"The public transport system has suffered from under-investment and a lack of cohesion. Too often this has resulted in a poor quality, disconnected service. There have been pockets of excellence but too often we concentrate on the performance of isolated elements rather than the experience of the journey as a whole.
"One of the greatest challenges we face is the need to make transport safer and more sustainable while promoting economic growth and connecting our communities.
"We can help build strong communities and tackle poverty and disadvantage by connecting people to each other and to job opportunities. Our transport system must be sustainable and minimise the adverse effects on our environment.
"We are determined to deliver greater investment in public transport. Over the next three years the total share of spending on public transport will increase to 70% of the transport budget. Over the next ten years we will spend over £3 billion on the biggest integrated package of transport infrastructure investment Scotland has ever seen.
"We are currently consulting on setting up a new transport agency. It will be equipped to manage large, long term investment more efficiently. To achieve this we must recruit individuals with rail, bus and other public transport skills from across the UK"
The Minister also congratulated the winners of last night's awards, adding:
"I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the first Scottish National Transport Awards. The winners have all demonstrated excellence and real innovation.
"To make a real difference, government alone cannot succeed. We need the help of the wider transport community if we are going to deliver. There are experienced and innovative people across Scotland who are developing new services and solving difficult problems. It is only by working together that we can transform Scotland's transport system for passengers, for communities and for business."
The Scottish National Transport Awards were hosted by the Centre for Transport Policy, Robert Gordon University.