Campaign for Better Transport wants to see the prioritisation of public transport investment in the Budget on 6 March.

Silviya Barrett from the campaign group urges a shift of funding away from ‘carbon intensive roads and aviation’ to ‘more sustainable public transport and active travel’ to grow the economy and address climate change.

Campaign for Better Transport suggests the Chancellor pauses all schemes under the Roads Investment Strategy 3 and review them against Net Zero and wider environmental goals with a commitment to only build new roads which will not increase carbon emissions. It also says the Treasury should redirect significant amounts of capital expenditure from roads to public transport infrastructure.

Prioritising public transport

The Campaign asks the Government to introduce a longer-term fares and concession offer for bus passengers, given the success of the £2 bus fare cap in England.

To address what it describes as the current competitive and fragmented system of funding local authority bus networks, the Local Integrated Transport Settlements (LITS) announced in Network North for northern and midlands authorities should be expanded to all local transport authorities.

All bus-related funding for local authorities should be transferred from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the DfT and ring-fenced to prevent a diversion of funds.

The Campaign calls for a duty on kerosene used for domestic flights, which it says should be introduced at 33p a litre (in line with what is being considered by the European Union).

It also suggests a ‘super’ tax on private jets, a pay-per-mile EV tax on the basis of vehicle mileage checked at the annual MOT and ending the 5p fuel duty cut and look to reform fuel duty in the long term.

It also urged speeding up railway improvements.

“We want to see a Budget that helps shift the balance of funding away from carbon-intensive roads and aviation, and towards more sustainable public transport” – Silviya Barrett, Campaign for Better Transport

Silviya Barrett said: “We want to see a Budget that helps shift the balance of funding away from carbon-intensive roads and aviation, and towards more sustainable public transport and active travel to help grow the economy and address climate change. The Chancellor should take this opportunity to prioritise investment in our rail and bus networks to help support the everyday transport that matters most to communities.”