CIHT: Transportation industry sets challenge and provides infrastructure funding solutions
The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) and infrastructure specialists Parsons Brinckerhoff and Balfour Beatty today launched the results of an initiative that provides a detailed ‘route map’ for change and suggests new and innovative models for funding transport infrastructure.
Infrastructure Funding & Delivery: An Action Plan for Change provides ideas, solutions and recommendations to ensure that the infrastructure necessary for the UK to deliver economic growth and to compete globally can be planned, funded, constructed or improved in fiscally restrained times.
The backdrop of significant economic change and severe restrictions on the public purse, has required decision makers in every field of public services, to find efficiencies in delivering services and to find new ways to construct necessary infrastructure. The economic growth that is so fundamental to overcoming the current recession is enabled through improved access to markets, labour skills and international gateways. This was recognised in the Government’s National Infrastructure Plan (2010), which invited the industry to come forward with pragmatic, achievable and deliverable ideas to help drive and enable economic growth.
Sue Percy, CIHT Chief Executive said:
“The funding and delivery of UK infrastructure needs to change to ensure that the infrastructure necessary for the UK to compete globally is in place, planned and improved over the short, medium and longer term.
“The report contains a number of recommendations including that the UK’s National Infrastructure Plan should be extended to include a 20 year timeline to help provide private investors with the confidence that they need. Our members have highlighted that this commitment alongside a clear and consistent message on where infrastructure is needed and likely to be financially viable are crucial in moving the agenda forward. ”
Nick Flew, Managing Director, Parsons Brinckerhoff EUMENA, said:
“Finding solutions and developing new models for infrastructure investment means clients, governments and the private sector must come together and agree a way forward. Unfortunately the UK’s status as a developed economy has perhaps made us complacent that increasing improvements in our existing infrastructure would always continue with minimal investment.
“The tough choices now needed to renew and increase the capacity of our infrastructure to support economic growth cannot be put off forever. How we meet this challenge will, in part, influence the security, prosperity and well-being of the UK for future generations.”
Infrastructure Funding & Delivery: An Action Plan for Change provides key findings, ideas, solutions and specific recommendations for UK decision makers. It provides a detailed ‘route map’ for change and suggests a comprehensive set of measures that should be applied in the short, medium and long term. The recommendations include:
Short term – ensure greater private sector investment through gap and forward funding initiatives; better define the roles of Local Enterprise Partnerships and local authorities in infrastructure delivery; allow small scale congestion charging schemes on their individual merits; and pursue the principles of ‘road user’ charging based on current successful examples.
Medium term – encourage the government to introduce mechanisms for the wider economic benefits of transport infrastructure to be captured as revenue streams; create transport infrastructure investment portfolios to spread risk; and provide a mechanism for local communities to invest in infrastructure that provides them with a direct benefit and return.
Long term – encourage the development of a 20-year transport infrastructure plan to ensure successive governments commit to a long term strategy to achieve best ‘whole life’ value; introduce mechanisms to attract private sector funding of transport improvements that serve existing developments and regeneration; and encourage the creation of regulated private sector market for transport infrastructure investment.
Issued by:
Daniel Isichei – Director of Communications, CIHT
Tel +44 (0) 20 7336 1567; Mob: 07912122573; Daniel.Isichei@ciht.org.uk
Nick Welsh – Parsons Brinckerhoff
Tel: +44 (0)1483 528568; Mob: 07770 832838; welshn@pbworld.com
Notes to editors:
A copy of the full report can be found here at www.ciht.org.uk – this is being distributed to the Secretary of State and Ministers for Transport and key stakeholders as well as being featured at a series of key workshops around the UK.
A four page summary document is also available on the web site.
Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation is a membership organisation representing over 12,000 people who work in the highways and transportation sector.
CIHT members plan, design, build, operate and maintain best-in-class transport systems and infrastructure, whilst respecting the imperatives of improving safety, ensuring economic competitiveness and minimising environmental impact.
CIHT supports its member’s professional endeavours by:
· offering training, information, professional development and support
· promoting the value added to society by the profession
· being the focused voice to Governments and other decision makers on transportation expertise and knowledge.
Parsons Brinckerhoff is a leader in developing and operating infrastructure around the world, with approximately 14,000 employees in 150 offices dedicated to meeting the needs of clients and communities in the Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Americas, Asia and Australia-Pacific regions. Parsons Brinckerhoff offers skills and resources in strategic consulting, planning, engineering, program/construction management, and operations for all modes of infrastructure, including transportation, power, buildings and infrastructure, water and the environment. Parsons Brinckerhoff is part of Balfour Beatty plc, the international infrastructure Group operating in professional services, construction services support services and infrastructure investments (www.pbworld.com).
Balfour Beatty) is a world-class infrastructure group with capabilities in professional services, construction services, support services and infrastructure investments.
We work in partnership with our customers principally in the UK, continental Europe, the US, South-East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, who value the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise.
Key infrastructure markets include transportation (roads, rail and airports); social infrastructure (education, specialist healthcare, and various types of accommodation); utilities (water, gas and power transmission and generation) and commercial (offices, leisure and retail).
The Group delivers services essential to the development, creation and care of these infrastructure assets including project design, financing and management, engineering and construction, and facilities management services.
Balfour Beatty employs 50,000 people around the world (www.balfourbeatty.com).
Daniel Isichei
Director of Communications
t: +44(0)20 7336 1567
m: 07912 122573
www.ciht.org.uk
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