Policy aims - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 186

Table 11.2 Objectives and PSA targets published in 2004 (source: 'The Future of Transport' Annex
B as updat ed in DfT Annual Report 2005/06)

Issue/topic DfT Public Service Agreements CM 6234

Road congestion
Rail

Objective I: Support the economy through the provision of efficient
and reliable inter-regional transport systems by making better use of the
existing road network; reforming rail services and industry structures to
deliver significant performance improvements for users; and investing in
additional capacity to meet growing demand.

PSA1 By 2007/08 make journeys more reliable on the Strategic Road
network.

PSA2 Improve punctuality and reliability of rail services to at least 85% by
2006, with further improvements by 2008.

Bus
Light rail
London

Objective II: Deliver improvements to the accessibility, punctuality and
reliability of local and regional transport systems through the approaches
set out in Objective I and through increased use of public transport and
other appropriate local solutions. Underground

PSA3 By 2010, increase the use of bus and light rail by more than 12% in
England compared with 2000 levels, with growth in every region.

PSA4 By 2010-11 the ten largest urban areas in England will meet the
congestion targets set in their LTPs relating to the movement on main
roads into city centres.

Road accidents
Air quality
Greenhouse gases

Objective III: Balance the need to travel with the need to improve quality
of life by improving safety and respecting the environment.

PSA5 Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in GB
in road accidents by 40% and the number of children by 50% by 2010
compared with the average for 1994-98, tackling the significantly higher
incidence in disadvantaged communities.

PSA6 Improve air quality by meeting the Air Quality Strategy targets
for carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles, sulphur dioxide,
benzene and 1,3 butadiene. [Joint with Defra]

PSA7 Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels in line
with our Kyoto commitment and move towards a 20% reduction in CO 2
emissions below 1990 levels by 2010, through measures including energy
efficiency and renewables. [Joint with Defra and DTI]
Objective IV: Improve cost-effectiveness through sound financial
management, robust cost control, and clear appraisal of transport
investment choices across different modes and locations.

improving the efficiency of travel and catering for increased demands on the one hand
and protecting or improving safety and environmental conditions on the other. What
is striking about the list however is the way that the economic objective should be
framed in such a way as to concentrate so heavily on congestion and reliability. This
reflects a shift to more visible instances of poor performance in particular situations
rather than less easily assimilated notions of economic performance or accessibility
across transport systems as a whole (Box 11.4).