Transport Scotland

Profile

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency for Scotland. Transport underpins how Scotland works and performs. Through the development of transport projects and policies we support our businesses, communities and services, connecting people across Scotland and beyond. Transport is a vital feature of the Scottish Government’s focus on increasing sustainable economic growth.

Our remit incorporates:

• Rail and trunk road networks
• Major public transport projects
• National concessionary travel schemes
• Impartial travel services
• Coordinating the National Transport Strategy for Scotland
• Liaising with regional transport partnerships, including monitoring of funding
• Sustainable transport, road safety and accessibility
• Local roads policy
• Aviation, bus, freight and taxi policy
• Ferries, ports and harbours
• The Blue Badge Scheme

An agency of the Scottish Government, we are accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers.

There are eight Transport Scotland directorates:

• Aviation, Maritime, Freight & Canals – Promotes Scotland’s international connectivity and transport links to our remote and island communities, and responsible for: project delivery, operational performance and policy development; aviation, ferries and canals; maritime interest including ports, harbours, and freight; looking after Scottish Ministers’ interests in Glasgow Prestwick Airport, David MacBrayne Limited, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, Highland and Island Airports Limited, and Scottish Canals.
• Bus, Accessibility & Active Travel – Responsible for the Scottish Government’s policy relating to bus, active travel, smart and integrated ticketing and accessible travel, including: enabling local authorities, operators and delivery partners to improve sustainable, accessible local transport options and get the travelling public back on the buses; promoting walking, cycling and wheeling; operating the concessionary bus travel scheme for disabled, older and young people; working with operators to ensure all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram networks can be ticketed or paid for using smart technologies; supporting the Mobility and Access Committee and the Active Nation Commissioner in their work to provide independent advice to Ministers.
• Finance & Corporate Services – Supports the operation and governance of Transport Scotland, including: providing core services and advice in the Finance, Human Resources, Learning and Development, Information governance, IT, Facilities, Health and Safety, TS Secretariat and Communications areas; a leading role on a range of corporate governance functions including risk management, the operation of the Audit and Risk Committee and corporate reporting requirements.
• Low Carbon Economy – Responsible for creating the strategic framework to coordinate the decarbonisation of Scotland’s transport system, including: leading the Scottish Government’s mission to remove the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032; delivering strategically coordinated investment in the charging network that reduces the need for electricity network upgrades and supports wider energy and transport system benefits; promoting the uptake of ULEVs across public and private fleets while supporting wider sustainable transport outcomes; harnessing Scotland’s world class research and innovation expertise to support the expansion of low carbon transport and supply chains; supporting sectors transition toward a low carbon transport system, including through skills development.
• Major Projects – Responsible for design, development, procurement and construction of major trunk road improvement projects across Scotland, alongside: leading and advising on procurement and contract management matters for Transport Scotland; contributing to our ambition to become a Centre of Excellence for the delivery of major projects.
• Rail – Responsible for Scotland’s rail policy and delivery, including: managing the ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper rail franchises; developing rail policy and strategic planning, including aligning it with wider social and economic policy; delivering major projects alongside industry partners; promoting and investing in the development of sustainable rail freight; managing economic regulation of the railways, and monitoring and advising on the affordability of the rail programme.
• Roads – Responsible for: the safe operation and maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network; roads policy; road safety, including oversight of progress towards national casualty reduction targets; Intelligent Transport Systems and lighting; resilience, winter maintenance and transport planning of major events; roads and bridges design standards; air quality and the environment including climate change adaptation and asset management.
• Transport Strategy & Analysis – Responsible for transport strategy and integration, transport futures, transport analysis and strategic transport planning, including: developing the successor national transport strategy and setting transport investment priorities to support Scotland’s Economic Strategy; analytical research and evaluation; transport appraisal and modelling; transport and land use planning; publishing national transport statistics to support evidence based policy; the Transport (Scotland) Bill; transport preparation for EU Exit; climate change policy and transport’s contribution to the Scottish Government Climate Change plan; transport policy integration; transport futures; transport governance including sponsorship of Regional Transport Partnerships, the Scottish Roadworks Commissioner, and transport components of City and Regional Growth deals.