Consultants scoop £5m contract for Scotland's national transport plans

Transport Scotland has awarded Jacobs and Aecom a contract to review and develop the devolved nation's national transport plans worth up to £5m.

The combined team will support Scotland's second Strategic Transports Projects Review (STPR2).  

It is expected the contract value will be between £2.5m and £5m.

To ensure delivery and cost effectiveness, Transport Scotland will commission the contract through a series of pre-authorised work packages which will control both the quantum and rate of spend, a spokesperson told Highways.

The review will consider future investment in all transport modes including the strategic road and rail networks as well as active travel, island connectivity, ferries and buses.

This is the second strategic review for Scotland – the first was published in 2008. The work on the new review will begin imminently.

Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity Michael Matheson said: 'Work is already underway on the review of the National Transport Strategy which will set out a shared vision for a future of our transport system and the second Strategic Transport Projects Review will build on that by identifying the infrastructure required to make this a reality.

'We have given a commitment to a collaborative review that considers the views of other bodies, for example, transport authorities and stakeholders, businesses, community groups and special interest groups.

'We will be inviting parties to engage in due course and look forward to continuing with our ongoing conversations on transport and its wider benefits and impacts.'