M by Guy Sheppard
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Public opinion has undergone a marked shift in favour of building more motorways and by-passes, according to a government think tank on transport.
The Commission for Integrated Transport says the results of a survey it commissioned show that supporters of expanding the motorway network now outnumber opponents by 3%. This compares with 34% favouring the idea and 46% opposing it when similar research was conducted last year. The survey also shows the public are now "much more in favour" of widening existing motorways and building more by-passes.
However, the commission says one of the strongest messages to emerge from the 2,200 people questioned by pollster MORI is their willingness to consider a range of radical proposals to tackle traffic congestion.
These include creating priority lanes for lorries on motorways, something supported by 69% of respondents, and introducing congestion charging and motorway tolling, provided the money is ploughed back into transport improvements or is used to offset vehicle excise duty and out fuel prices.
Commission chair Professor David Begg says people accept transport services cannot be improved overnight. "But the fact that the public are prepared to accept radical action and higher public investment is a clear 4n of their impatience at the pace of change."