The Independent Transport Commission has published this pioneering report into long-distance domestic travel in Great Britain. Using data from the National Travel Survey and a bespoke statistical model, the study analysed patterns of long-distance travel within Great Britain and tested the effects of a number of potential scenarios.

The Report found:-

• People make on average 20 long-distance trips per year, averaging 100 miles per trip
• Cars are used for almost 80% of all long distance travel mileage
• There are five main purposes for long-distance journeys: visiting friends and relatives (28% of mileage); leisure (21%); holidays (21%); business travel (20%) and commuting (10%).

The full report is available in the RUA members' area.

The Social Market Foundation, a pro-market think tank, has called for every UK citizen to be given a free, tradable share in the road network.

In a new report, "Roads to Recovery," the SMF argues that road user charging is the solution to the UK’s overloaded road network. In order to overcome political objections to road charging, the SMF suggests that citizens should retain ownership of their roads. Every British citizen should be given a tradable share in the roads worth over £1500. Any profits from road charging, or the sale of road shares, would then go to shareholders – the people – rather than into Treasury coffers. The report calculates that, as well as receiving the road share windfall, the average motorist would be better off, paying less in tolls than they currently do in tax.

The Department for Transport has made a series of announcements of funding for transport schemes. A mix of road, rail and bus schemes, the following road schemes may be of interest to RUA members.

• A684 Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar major scheme: Programme Entry
• Nottingham Ring Road scheme: Programme Entry
• Sadlers Farm Junction local transport major scheme: Full Approval
• A41 Expressway scheme: Final Approval
• White Rose Way Improvement Scheme : Programme Entry
• Edge Lane West, Liverpool: Full Approval
• Silver Jubilee Bridge, Runcorn
• Crewe Green Link Road South: Programme Entry
• Bidston Moss Viaduct strengthening scheme: Full Approval.

The House of Commons Public Affairs Committee has called for the Department for Transport to work with the Treasury and "find a way for foreign lorries to pay for their keep on our roads."

Read the full report here.

According to The Guardian: “The tax regime and infrastructure must be improved if Britain wants to continue attracting investment, Gordon Brown was warned yesterday as he launched a charm offensive for international companies.

Prioritising thirteen crucial transport projects over the life of the next Parliament - twelve regional and one national - would bring the UK economic benefits worth a massive £85 billion, according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Read more: http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/zones/policy/press-releases_1/key-transport-projects-would-deliver-85-billion-benefit-to-uk-economy.html

The ICE has urged the Government to use the forthcoming Budget to set out plans for a new National Infrastructure Investment Bank, which would be an innovative method of funding essential transport, energy, waste and water infrastructure projects.

ICE Director General, Tom Foulkes, said: “The effectiveness of initiatives such as Infrastructure UK, the reforms to the planning system and the Chief Construction Adviser will be greatly enhanced if new and innovative ways to fund the much-needed infrastructure can be unlocked and ongoing barriers to private investment are addressed. We hope the Government’s strategy, to be outlined in the Budget, will provide the crucial missing piece of the jigsaw.