The Eddington Transport Study: main report, transport's role in sustaining the UK's productivity and competitiveness - Tapa blanda

This report is one of a series of reviews, commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to accompany the pre-Budget report 2006 (to be published 6 December 2006, Cm. 6984, ISBN 0101698429). It examines the long-term links between the transport sector and the UK's economic productivity, growth and stability, within the context of the Government's broader commitment to sustainable development. The report is in four volumes and considers the following issues: the role of the transport sector in contributing to economic success; strategic economic priorities for the UK transport system; the challenge of prioritising the most effective policies; and actions needed to enable the system to deliver. Over the next 20 years, three strategic economic priorities for transport policy are identified, relating to congested and growing city catchments; and to key inter-urban corridors and international gateways that are showing signs of increasing congestion and unreliability. The report recommends that the Government should adopt a sophisticated policy mix to meet both economic and environmental goals, including pricing policy and making best use of existing networks. Reflecting the high returns available from some transport investment based on full appraisal of environmental and social costs and benefits, the Government, together with the private sector, should deliver sustained and targeted infrastructure investment in those schemes which demonstrate high returns, including smaller schemes tackling pinch points. A summary document 'The case for action: Sir Rod Eddington's advice to Government' (ISBN 0118404822) is supplied with the main report, but is also available separately. Ten supporting documents drawn on by this Study (containing analytical evidence from a broad range of sources including transport policy appraisals, strategic modelling, academic literature reviews, and academic papers) are available as pdf documents at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/eddington_transport_study/eddington_annexes.cfm