The Department for Transport (DfT) outlined its proposed approach to long-term transport planning in its 2007 publication Towards a Sustainable Transport System (pdf, 1.43mb) in response to the Eddington Transport Study and Stern Review.
The DfT published Delivering a Sustainable Transport System (DaSTS) in 2008.
In this report, DfT explain how they are taking action in a way that aims to both tackle immediate transport problems and also shape the transport system to meet the longer term challenges that are critical for our prosperity and way of life.
The purpose of DaSTS is to take these—sometimes conflicting, sometimes supporting—aims and develop a sustainable transport system. The report sets out aims for the work over the period to 2014.
Delivering a sustainable transport system in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Shadow Joint Strategy and Investment Board has developed the region's submission for DaSTS. This submission outlines the regional work programme (pdf, 1.27mb).
The thinking in the West Midlands has substantially developed during the last year with the development of a Regional Transport Priorities Action Plan (pdf, 1.34mb).
The regional DaSTS work programme has been designed to help identify the challenges for the West Midlands and, by improving the evidence base, enable us to identify a series of interventions on the transport network.
However, the work has also been designed to identify the opportunities to deliver better economic, social and environmental outcomes through spatial planning and new models of service delivery. Successful sustainable transport systems should be able to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration, and to tackle carbon emissions.
The first stage of the West Midlands DaSTS submission was made in June 2009. The report Delivering a Sustainable Transport System in the West Midlands (pdf, 1.27mb) was presented to DfT, setting out regional and national strategic priorities. The report also sets out the region's work programme and funding priorities.
In the meantime, it will be necessary to undertake substantial work in the region to develop packages of transport interventions that work towards the five DaSTS goals. In particular, understanding how to support sustainable economic growth, tackle carbon emissions and support the renaissance of our urban and rural areas.
The West Midlands' evidence base
A great deal of relevant research work has already been conducted.
To make this available we worked with regional partners to pull together the relevant research into a DaSTS evidence base. This will be expanded as new work is produced.
The evidence base is stored in our Resource Catalogue - you can always find it by searching this site with the keyword 'dasts':