The Welsh Government has approved the four regional transport plans (RTPs), paving the way for the introduction of a raft of new policies, including a congestion charge in Cardiff and a third Menai crossing in North Wales.

The plans cover North Wales, Mid Wales, South East Wales and South West Wales and were submitted by the Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) representing the regions. Having gained approval they take immediate effect.

Ministers also confirmed that several funding streams would be combined into a single Regional Transport Fund from next year to help deliver the Regional Transport Plans (RTPs).

The plans set out policies for the implementation by local transport authorities of Llwybr Newydd (the Wales Transport Strategy) in each region over the next five years and policies for the promotion and encouragement of 'safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport to, from and within the area,' the Welsh Government said.

In the South East Cardiff region, this includes policies to develop user charging systems to reduce congestion, including a congestion charge, as well as widespread upgrades to active travel routes.

This week, Ken Skates MS, cabinet secretary for transport and north Wales, approved the plans and confirmed they complied with the national strategy.

'Each plan contains a range of policies suitable to deliver an accessible, sustainable and efficient transport system in each region, in line with the Sustainable Transport Hierarchy. The plans have been developed in line with the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and each is accompanied by an Integrated Wellbeing Assessment,' he said.

The aim of the plans is to introduce a more strategic approach to improving transport in each region of Wales, better aligned with land-use planning, while also giving the regions more of a voice in funding decisions, he added.

'This is a big step forward for greater collaboration across our regions. To support the implementation of RTPs, we are modernising our transport grants to local authorities and from April 2026, we will combine several funding streams into a single Regional Transport Fund to help deliver RTPs.

'Local authorities will now be able to come together to make streamlined recommendations about how this future funding is spent, based on their agreed delivery plan for each region. This will ensure that the investment we make in transport is adapted to the needs of each region and informed by those who know the region best. It will also allow us to reduce the administrative burdens local authorities face to access funding.'

In the south east region, home to the Cardiff metro area, the regional plan includes a policy to reduce the number of private car trips into the towns and city centres and to address congestion and air pollution and improve the efficiency of our road network.

This will be achieved by;

  • Prioritising the development and delivery of evidence-based network charging measures and controls to reduce the number of trips made by the private car on the region's busiest, most congested corridors e.g., emissions charging, congestion charging.
  • Supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based management of parking supply, with careful consideration of the need to promote vibrant town and village centres in some areas. • Investigate and support opportunities to introduce workplace parking levy schemes to encourage greater use of public transport and car sharing.
  • Supporting schemes that formalise Park & Share to facilitate an increase in car sharing whilst better managing the impacts in local areas.
  • as well as various car sharing initiatives.

In North Wales, the region plan calls for a third Menai crossing. The issue of resilience over the Menai Strait, which separates Anglesey and Gwynedd, has been an increasing focus in recent years due to the closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge and frequent weather disruptions on the Britannia bridge.

The report states that the crossing is crucial for employment, key services and business and for the port of Holyhead.