The South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) is the statutory Regional Transport Partnership for the South East of Scotland. SEStran encompasses eight local authorities: City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Falkirk, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian. Within the partnership area there is a huge diversity of transportation issues, from urban congestion to rural public transport and from ferry ports to airports.
Senior Partnership Manager, Anna Herriman, and Strategy Manager, Jim Stewart, joined us at TRANSPORT Smart Class, Scotland 2022 to present SEStran’s new (draft) Regional Transport Strategy and demonstrate how it meets the challenges of the next decade for the region. SEStran’s strategy aims to create a framework for the region in which sustainable modes of transport are easier, more appealing and accessible for all to use. The RTS vision simultaneously provides a framework for delivering on climate targets and social justice outcomes:
“A South-East of Scotland fully integrated transport system that will be efficient, connected and safe; create inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable places to live, work and visit; be affordable and accessible to all, enabling people to be healthier; and delivering the region’s contribution to net zero emissions targets”.
Anna and Jim’s keynote outlined the approach used to develop the RTS and the role of an RTS in Scotland’s transport ‘environment’. Their presentation included discussion on how transport issues relating to land use, planning and development have been woven into the development of the RTS, and overviewed the RTS’s new spatial strategy. They also explained how the RTS’s use of new regional mobility themes have been designed to help define the region’s challenges and priorities. This part of the presentation also summarised the role of all partners in delivering the RTS’s vision.
Presentation highlights:
- Policy context – Alignment at national level: Share of greenhouse gas emissions by mode in Scotland (stats) and prioritising sustainable transport (walking and wheeling, cycling, public transport, taxis & shared transport, private car);
- SEStran traffic on roads stats;
- Why develop a Regional Transport Strategy? Legislation context;
- Procedures to develop a Regional Transport Strategy;
- Process overview/Strategic environmental assessment and equalities impact assessment;
- RTS development STAG steps (1); RTS: STAG-based outputs; Next STAG steps; Final steps;
- Regional Mobility Themes (1): Shaping development and place; Delivering safe active travel; Enhancing access to and accessibility of public transport; Transforming and extending the bus service; Enhancing and extending rail services; Reallocating road space on the regional and local network;
- Regional Mobility Themes (2): Delivering seamless multi-modal journeys; Decarbonising transport; Facilitating efficient freight movement and passenger travel; Working towards zero road deaths and serious injuries; Reducing car kilometres; Responding to the post covid world;
- Spatial strategy: Strand 1 – Better connecting communities affected by deprivation to a wider range of opportunities;
- Spatial strategy: Strand 2 – Reducing car-km and car mode share: Car use in SEStran area (commuting data); A ‘whole-region’ approach to car traffic reduction targets; Regional corridors;
- Draft RTS summary;
- Delivery and monitoring – Proposed Investment Plan: Local authority partner considerations and funding;
- Using the RTS spatial strategy to support iRSS
If you satisfy our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us in Glasgow on December 7th for the live in-person event at Citation, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Anna and Jim’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
