The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has set out clear expectations for the next Scottish and Welsh governments, calling for sustained, long term transport policy and investment that moves beyond short term fixes and delivers a resilient, safe and inclusive transport system for communities across both nations.
In the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary election, CIHT has welcomed the strong focus on transport and infrastructure across party manifestos. Commitments on potholes, public transport, ferries, rail services and safety reflect the vital role transport plays in supporting everyday life, economic activity and connectivity across urban, rural and island communities.
Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive of CIHT (pictiued), said:
“Scotland’s transport network underpins everyday life and economic prosperity – linking our cities and towns with rural and island communities. It’s encouraging to see transport and infrastructure featuring prominently across parties’ election commitments, from maintaining roads and renewing ferries to improving public transport, rail services and safety.
“As the professional body for the people who plan, design, operate and maintain these networks, CIHT is ready to work with the next Scottish Government to turn manifesto ambition into a long term, properly funded programme that delivers resilient infrastructure, supports net zero and provides safe, inclusive and sustainable travel choices. Our members will be central to making these commitments real, bringing the professional expertise needed to design, deliver and maintain the improvements people across Scotland will rightly expect to see.”
CIHT has also welcomed the prominence given to transport and infrastructure across political party manifestos ahead of the 2026 Senedd election. We are calling on all parties to commit to long term, evidence led transport policies that support communities, economic prosperity and connectivity across Wales.
Across the manifestos, commitments on road condition, public transport, bus reform, rail investment, active travel and road safety underline the importance of transport to everyday life in Wales – for both urban centres and rural and valley communities.
CIHT is a chartered professional body representing those who plan, design, build, operate and maintain Wales’s transport networks. Drawing on our professional principles on asset management, resilience, safety, decarbonisation and inclusive mobility, we have identified a number of priority actions for the next Welsh Government.
CIHT calls on Welsh political parties to commit to:
Evidence led road safety and speed management
With road safety and the default 20mph speed limit featuring prominently in debates and referenced in several manifestos, CIHT is calling for clear national leadership on road safety, evidence led speed management and a renewed focus on the transport network as a place of work as well as movement.
A long term, funded approach to road maintenance and asset management
CIHT urges all parties to move beyond short term, reactive approaches to potholes and surface defects and instead commit to sustained, multi year investment in whole life asset management. Improving underlying structural condition, drainage and climate resilience will deliver better value for money, safer roads and fewer long term disruptions for users.
Transport investment that balances resilience, decarbonisation and affordability
Manifestos should more clearly recognise the growing impact of climate change on Wales’s transport networks, including flooding, extreme heat and severe weather. CIHT is calling for transport investment decisions that explicitly consider climate adaptation and resilience, alongside decarbonisation goals, user affordability and long term public value.
Realistic, integrated alternatives to car dependency
CIHT supports continued investment in buses, rail, fares reform and active travel, particularly in urban areas, but stresses the need for place based, integrated planning that aligns transport with land use and development. Policies must recognise that while car use must reduce overall, it will remain essential for many people living in rural and valley communities.
Sue Percy commented:
“The next Welsh Government will face difficult choices, but transport professionals are in a prime position to help turn ambition into reality. CIHT and our members in Wales play a vital role in planning, designing, managing and maintaining the networks people rely on every day. By working with government, local authorities and delivery partners, we can help ensure transport investment is evidence led, resilient, inclusive and delivers real benefits for communities across Wales – now and into the future.”
(Picture: CIHT)
