Key players from across the transport community will be brought together at a conference hosted by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) next month.
The event, UK Transport – The Engine for Growth, will see industry professionals discuss the future challenges for UK transport and how it can deliver as a key driver of economic growth.
Speakers include Danny Alexander MP, chief secretary to HM Treasury, who will discuss investment in transport infrastructure and how Government and industry can work together to implement change in the sector. He will be joined by Alison Munro, chief executive, HS2, Sir Peter Hendy, Commissioner, Transport for London, and representatives from organisations including Network Rail, Sustainable Aviation, the Highways Agency, Heathrow Airport, Transport for Greater Manchester, the Department for Transport (DfT) and Infrastructure UK.
Chair of ICE’s State of the Nation: Transport report steering group Steven Hayter, will also speak at the event. The conference follows on from the launch of the flagship report, published at ICE in June with Roads Minister Stephen Hammond MP. The report claimed political disagreement on projects, patchy investment, inadequate maintenance and the absence of clear, strategic thinking were undermining the contribution transport infrastructure could make to growth, competitiveness and quality of life.
Hayter said: “The UK’s ability to generate and sustain economic growth depends on the effectiveness of our transport infrastructure – it enables access to work and business, education, health services and the movement of essential goods into and around the UK. Government policy affects every aspect of this, yet despite progress in the rail sector and some broad transport goals set out in the National Infrastructure Plan, the strategy and objectives remain unclear. In the last five years many of the most important issues – from aviation capacity through to severe pothole damage – are still unresolved.”
The event is taking place on 25 September 2013 at the ICE HQ in Westminster, London. For further information or to book a place visit: www.ice-conferences.com/UK-Transport
