The development of Scotland's transport infrastructure aims to promote economic growth, social inclusion and sustainable development through a safe, integrated and efficient network of roads, rail, sea and air.
Building Better Transport: policy milestones since devolution -
- 2002 Transport Delivery Report
- 2004 Transport White Paper - set out the strategic objectives for transport in Scotland including proposals for a new transport agency
- 2005 Transport (Scotland) Act - detailed proposals for new strategic regional transport partnerships (RTPs), outlining the co-ordination of national and regional transport strategies, enabling a national concessionary travel scheme and creating new procedures for tackling roadworks and a new road words commissioner
- 2005 UK Railways Act - outlines the biggest transfer of powers to Scottish Ministers since devolution
- 2005 Consultation on Rail Strategy for Scotland - this is the first time Ministers have had policy responsibility for setting the future direction of the rail network in Scotland following the UK Railways Act. This will contribute to work for the forthcoming National Transport Strategy.
- October 2005 - transfer of rail powers to Scottish Ministers
- 2006 consultation on National Transport Strategy (early 2006) and publication of final version (mid 2006)
- April 1, 2006 - regional transport partnerships take on full powers
- 2007 Strategic Projects Review begins
- The Transport and Works (Scotland) Bill was introduced on June 26. This Bill seeks to replace the current Private Bills procedures for transport-related developments with provisions that instead will place the Scottish Ministers at the heart of a more streamlined order-making process. The Bill and supporting documentation can be found on the Scottish Parliament website.