Future Generations Commissioner for Wales calls on Welsh Government to be brave in its investment on transport
‘Transport Fit for Future Generations’ written
in partnership with the Centre for
Transport and Society (CTS), University of
the West of England, Sustrans and
New Economics
Foundation illustrates, with practical
examples, how a sustainable transport system could
be designed for any part of Wales.
Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
says:
“Wales has a choice to make. It must
choose whether to spend £1.4 billion on building a
14-mile section of M4 motorway, or to invest
in alternative sustainable transport infrastructure
that’s fit for future generations, that Wales and
the world can be proud of…
“Our report highlights evidence around how building roads
does not solve congestion and will result in Wales
failing to decrease its carbon emission and missing the
Government’s own targets of 80% reduction by 2050…
“The findings of this report clearly justify a reasonable
cause for a review and re-appraisal of Welsh Government’s M4 Black
Route proposal.”
Statistics:
- Building the Black Route will result in an emission
of 500,000+ tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents which
will not be removed from the atmosphere until at
least 2072 - 24% of households in Wales did not own a car 2011/12
- Expanding the investment programme in Active
Travel out to the whole Cardiff
Capital Region would cost approx. £290
million but would result in economic benefits
of £2.5bn over 20 years, delivering a 19% and
82% increase in walking and cycling trips respectively - A similar level of increase could be delivered across the whole
of Wales with an investment of £600m,
delivering £5bn of benefits over 20 years
