Consultancy calls for scrutiny of UK’s transport forecasts

In the UK a leading consultancy, WSP, is calling for close scrutiny of Census data and traffic trends. This move forms part of the UK Government’s Transport Select Committee investigation into the country’s strategic road network (SRN). According to WSP more must be done to investigate and take account of new trends in development, demographics and travel patterns when making decisions on future infrastructure provision. It claims that there is evidence in some areas that car journeys have been stagnating o
November 8, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
In the UK a leading consultancy, 2782 WSP, is calling for close scrutiny of Census data and traffic trends. This move forms part of the UK Government’s Transport Select Committee investigation into the country’s strategic road network (SRN). According to WSP more must be done to investigate and take account of new trends in development, demographics and travel patterns when making decisions on future infrastructure provision. It claims that there is evidence in some areas that car journeys have been stagnating or declining since 2004, which is believed by many to herald a peak car scenario. Equally, there are examples of traffic levels rising in other areas. Notably, many areas of UK capital London and the South East of England have seen traffic flows fall in the last 10 years. However, the precise causes and implications of these changing trends remain the subject of on-going debate.

WSP has said that forecasting transport demand is a complex business. Based on recent evidence, it seems that in some areas there is a risk over-estimating demand, but in others it may be under-estimated. Given the importance, financial scale and long term nature of infrastructure investment it is important that forecasting is refined so as to deliver the right infrastructure in the right places.

For more information on companies in this article

WSP

Related Content

  • Highways UK event highlights the time for change for Highways England
    November 13, 2015
    The planning of strategic highways in England is locked into a two-tier mentality that is not good for the economy or for society. It is time to change. That is the message that David Quarmby, former chair of the RAC Foundation and head of RJRF’s Major Roads for the Future study, will be bringing to Highways UK, the landmark new roads conference at ExCel, London, 25th-26th November. In his keynote address Quarmby will argue that while welcome new funds, a new planning regime and a new arm’s length ro
    Read More
  • Carbon emissions discussion
    March 22, 2012
    Smarter steps to reduce carbon emissions are being proposed by a new study from The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT). With transport accounting for nearly 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and at a time when governments are agreeing to move forward together on reducing emissions, CILT is calling for a balanced approach to carbon management and better assessment of the carbon impact in making transport investment choices.
    Read More
  • Changing face of global construction industry
    February 28, 2012
    David CA Phillips reports on the changing structure of the global construction equipment industry. In 2007, the year of peak historical demand and before the onset of the international financial crisis, estimated total sales of key equipment types stood at just over 1,000,000 units, valued at approximately US$100 billion. By 2009 sales had fallen to around 600,000 units valued at around $65 billion. The consequences of the global financial recession were dramatic and immediate, and remain with us today, and
    Read More
  • UK’s construction machinery market proves bullish
    March 8, 2022
    The UK’s construction machinery market is bullish with strong sales.
    Read More

Highlighted Content