Benefits of Integrated Transport Policy

MONDAY 10TH MAY

a) EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS OF AN INTERGRATED TRANSPORT POLICY

Integration concerns the ways or processes by which the individual parts of transport policy are deliberately linked into a policy that covers all models of transport, for both passengers and freight. An integrated transport network is extremely unlikely to be delivered to a good standard in the free market. This is due to the fact that private operators, such as bus and train operators, are unlikely to coordinate their activities and services, so that they connect well because their main focus is their profit margin. It does not concern them if there is no bus leaving in the near future after a train is scheduled to arrive in a specific area, as long as their profits are being maximised. This can result in long delays for passengers that need to switch from one mode of transport to another to complete their journey; however this does not affect a private firm’s profit margin.

Governments need to intervene to end the chaos of the free market; otherwise an integrated transport system will not occur if they resist intervention and adopt a laissez faire approach.

According to the Commission for Integrated Transport, an integrated transport policy is one that enables the government to achieve its transport policy objectives; a sustainable environment, a strong economy and an inclusive society. These objectives were set out in the 1998 Transport White paper. They include goals such as; integration within and between different types of transport, so that each method of transport contributes to its full potential, and so that people can move easily between them. This involves coordinating schedules, for example, of buses and trains, so that passengers arriving somewhere by train do not have to be delayed by what could be a significant amount of time whilst waiting for a bus to take them to their final destination. A second objective is integration with the environment, in order for the...