A policy assessment of how the transport sector in Scotland can make the transition to net zero has called for a shift of spending away from road building.
The report presents a challenge to existing Scottish Government plans for major road schemes and warns that increases in demand caused by the decreasing cost of electric vehicles will need to be mitigated through policies such as road user charging.
A recent deal between the SNP administration and the Green Party left plans to dual the A9 (pictured) and A96, costed at £3bn each, largely intact, subject to an evidence-based review of the A96 scheme, which is now likely to include the findings of this report.
Transport Scotland, which published the report by low carbon consultancy Element Energy, said it ‘is clear that transformational change in individual and business behaviour and travel choices will be required alongside the pursuit of continued technological innovation’.
Transport minister Graeme Dey ([pictured) told the Scottish Parliament: ‘The Programme for Government sets out how we will take Scotland on a green transport revolution and in a way delivers a fairer and healthier Scotland. The report we have commissioned from Element Energy sets out what that future could look like, and what policy outcomes are required to support that vision.
‘Technology offers us many solutions, and we’re making good progress, but the report is clear that transformational change in travel behaviour is required. The role of government, therefore, is to make sustainable travel choices easier, and our Programme for Government commitments support just that.’
He added: ‘We are aware that we need to disincentivise car use to encourage people to make more sustainable choices. But the most direct levers here – fuel duty and vehicle excise duty – are reserved. So the UK Government must play its part and use all the levers and powers it has to support us in this endeavour.’
Transport Scotland said the report provides ‘a clear message that substantial behaviour change is required on car travel, irrespective of whether cars are electric or otherwise, underpinning the Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030’.
The report recommends the government ‘focus investment away from roads towards public, active, and shared transport’.
‘The cost benefit analysis conducted to justify current road building projects assumes vehicle km travelled will increase and that the road will provide benefits in terms of reduced congestion. However, to meet Scotland’s emission targets will require a significant reduction in vehicle km travelled, alleviating congestion, and tipping the cost benefit analysis against future road building projects,’ it states.
‘This will help to reduce government spending on roads freeing up money for active and public transport infrastructure.’ The report also states: ‘Increases in vehicle demand caused by the decreasing cost of electric fuels must be mitigated through a policy, such as road user charging, which brings transport costs per km back up to current fossil fuel per km prices for driving.’
