Introduction

We all know the vital role that transport plays in our daily lives. Our transport networks help us to access education, jobs, and healthcare and are a vital link in the chain that supplies our goods and services.

Transport is in a period of change. Through the pandemic we have all thought more about how we move around, and in many cases, we have made changes. That has meant more working from home, an emphasis on local walking and cycling trips, and significant changes for our public transport networks. We are also in a period of longer term change as technology in particular revolutionises how we live, work and play, and is helping transform our cars, buses and trains to a decarbonised fleet.

The second National Transport Strategy (NTS2) is a strategy for change. It recognises the key role that transport has in reducing inequalities, delivering inclusive economic growth, improving our health and wellbeing, and tackling the climate emergency. At the heart of the Strategy is the recognition that we need to deliver a step-change in behaviour and provide attractive, affordable, accessible and sustainable travel options. The actions to take forward the NTS2 are outlined in the annual delivery plan.

Reducing our carbon emissions to net zero by 2045, a key part of the Scottish Government’s policy to address the global climate emergency, will require significant changes to the transport choices we all make as well as the transport network and options that influence our decision making. Recognising this, the Scottish Government has committed to reducing car kilometres by 20 per cent by 2030, and has recently published a Route Map outlining the actions that will be taken to achieve this acknowledging that technological advances will not be enough to achieve this on their own.

A core part of the NTS2 delivery plan is the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). The outcomes from this three year review address the challenges outlined above by identifying how and where we should make changes to our transport networks that will encourage more of our:

• shorter everyday trips to be made by walking, wheeling and cycling;
• short to medium-length trips to be made by public transport;
• longer trips to be made by public transport and low emission vehicles.

These choices are built on the foundation of the sustainable investment hierarchy from NTS2 that focuses us firstly on:

• reducing the need to travel unsustainably, then
• maintaining and safely operating existing assets, then
• making better use of existing capacity, and finally
• targeted infrastructure improvements.

By focusing investment on sustainable transport options for individuals, families, communities and businesses, the STPR2 recommendations will make it easier to access the transport networks and systems that Scotland will need to meet the challenges and changes over the next 20 years.

STPR2 is an ambitious plan for investment for the next 20 years (2022-2042) however, it is not a funded plan and is subject to the funding allocations agreed by Parliament each year through the annual budget process.