Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)’s vision for the future of transport across the region has now been approved by its Partnership.

The new Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) – A Call to Action – sets out the transport projects, actions, services and other activities to be taken forward in line with strategic priorities within the document. It is now subject to formal ministerial approval from the Scottish Government.

The RTS has been subject to full consultation with stakeholders and the public who have all played a vital role in the development of the final document.  A key call within the RTS is the importance of ensuring public transport is more affordable for all.

Key themes of the new RTS are:

• Delivering affordable public transport for all particularly for people living in poverty, in socio-disadvantaged communities and in rural and remote areas.
• Developing and facilitating enhanced integration of public transport systems for ticketing, travel information, booking and payment activities across all public transport modes in the region including inter-regional connections where appropriate.
• Facilitating and enabling development of an enhanced and fully integrated bus network for the region.

SPT chair Stephen Dornan said:

“The final draft RTS marks the culmination of a rigorous development process by SPT and partners over recent years.  It has been developed on the back of in-depth research, review, analysis, best practice and statutory assessment. Most importantly the final document reflects feedback received from the public who we hope will benefit most from this far reaching document. 

“This document reflects the ambitions, and long-term direction, for transport in the west of Scotland for the next 15 years including the potential impact of Clyde Metro.

“However, to deliver these key themes effectively, SPT requires additional powers, regulations and adequate funding to be devolved from Scottish Government to allow us to reach the full ambitions of the RTS for the good of all communities across the west of Scotland.”

Monitoring and reporting on the progress of the RTS will be ongoing and reported back on a regular basis to the SPT Partnership.