Noswaith dda Good evening and thank you to Furrer and Fray to inviting me as a Member of the Assembly Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee to sponsor this event launching their White Paper for Developing Sustainable, Agile, Multimodal Transport.
The paper takes the views of people in Wales and applies them to real world solutions to improve public transport. The paper focuses on the real-world benefits of electrification of public transport.
This paper focuses on utilising renewable energy and battery solutions to enable future public transport projects in Wales to be flexible and agile.
A diverse range of speakers will be presenting their views
on what role public transport plays in communities and what connecting people really means.
Furrer+Frey are currently working on several key transport infrastructure projects in Wales. In particular they designed the new electrification system installed in the Severn Tunnel in conjunction with Network Rail, ABC Electrification and Arup.
Furrer+Frey are a Swiss company, but in response to the commitment to infrastructure development in Wales, they have recently invested in opening an engineering office in Cardiff.
They have also been investing in engineering research and education in Wales, working with Coleg y Cymoedd, have supplied equipment for their Railway Training Centre of Excellence free of charge to help support training in Wales.
The White Paper being launched this evening includes the full results of You.Gov Survey Welsh Public Transport Survey commissioned by Furrer and Fray.
The key points from this are as follows :
- Investment in Transport Infrastructure in Wales is vital for the future of Wales – both economically and socially
- Transport Infrastructure connects communities
- Connecting communities’ opens opportunity to Employment, Education, Health, Arts, Tourism and so on
- AND Development and Delivery of Transport Infrastructure in Wales must be deployed in a sustainable managed way using local resources wherever possible.
71% of people in Wales think more investment in public transport would make a difference to the wider economy.
80% of 1824 year olds think that more investment in public
transport would make a difference to their access to education
70% of people in Wales think more investment in
public transport would create jobs and 80%
think it would be easier to access those jobs
63% of women think Welsh communities
would be better integrated with more investment in public
transport
Only 29% of people think public transport is well
interconnected in Wales, falling to 20% in Mid Wales.
74% of people think investment in trains and buses should be a priority for the Welsh Government.
AND Only 48% of people are currently satisfied with public transport regionally – with just 5% very satisfied in North Wales, which I represent.
Last September I led an Assembly debate on the North Wales Growth Deal, following publication by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board of “A Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales”, and its submission to the UK and Welsh Governments.
The Vision is supported by the leaders and chief executives of all six unitary authorities within the region, the North Wales Business Council, Bangor University, Glyndwr University, Coleg Cambria and Grwp Llandrillo – Menai (College).
It gives clear direction for future planning, setting out shared aims and aspirations for “a confident, cohesive region with sustainable economic growth, capitalising on the success of high value economic sectors and its connection to the economies of the Northern Powerhouse and Ireland”.
Our motion recognised the importance of transport connections within North Wales, and between North Wales and the north west of England and the Midlands.
The Vision calls for the devolution of powers by the Welsh Government over employment, taxes, skills and transport, stating that this “would boost the economy, jobs and productivity, create at least 120,000 jobs, and boost the value of the local economy from £12.8 billion to £20 billion by 2035.
As the Vision states “The region is prepared and ready to accept new responsibilities and powers on key decisions that affect the region through a “Team North Wales” approach”.
North Wales has the highest proportion of travel to work by car rates in the UK and Poor transport infrastructure is strangling economic growth.
Freight from Ireland arrives at Holyhead by HGV/Ro-Ro and makes its onward journey along congested roads.
At a meeting in November 2012, it was agreed that the North Wales Economic Ambition Board would build a business case for the electrification of the rail line from Holyhead to Crewe, and develop actions and strategies for transport in North Wales.
It is in this context that the North Wales Economic Ambition Board states “the vision complements the developing strategy for the Northern Powerhouse, is fully integrated with the Strategy Growth Bid submission of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, and has the Growth Track 360 plan for rail investment at its core.
Both North Wales and the UK Government therefore need to hear from the Welsh Government how it proposes to respond and take this forward.
I therefore welcome the fact that today’s launch is focused on the sustainable development and delivery of transport infrastructure throughout Wales.