Overview
This seminar will assess the progress of Government's Road Investment Strategy - which for the first time sees a longer-term £15bn budget allocated to Highways England - and assess the next steps for policy development.
Planned sessions consider the development of Smart Motorways, with £1.5bn set aside for their construction over the RIS; the integration of the Strategy with the plans for regional transport schemes; the developing roles of new institutions with the Office of Rail and Road publishing its interim assessment of Highways England in December, and the future for funding the Strategic Road Network following reforms to Vehicle Excise Duty, creating a ring-fenced Road Fund for investment.
Delegates will also discuss the outlook for road infrastructure planning and funding priorities, following the creation of six British Wealth Funds aimed at investing in infrastructure projects; and the establishment of the National Infrastructure Commission, which will advise on spending priorities in the upcoming 2016 Budget.
At this very early stage, we are delighted that Paul O'Sullivan, Director for Strategic Roads, Economics and Statistics, Department for Transport; Malcolm Bingham, Head of Road Network Management Policy, Freight Transport Association; Stephen Dauncey, Finance Director, Highways England and Guy Dangerfield, Road User Director, Transport Focus have agreed to speak at this seminar