General Election causes Lower Thames Crossing DCO delay

The Secretary of State for Transport has issued a Written Ministerial Statement that sets a new deadline for the determination of the Lower Thames Crossing DCO application for 4 October 2024. This is due to the General Election and to allow appropriate time for any new Secretary of State to consider the application, however the […]
Transport Secretary visits Hampshire as record funding boost for resurfacing hits the road

Transport Secretary Mark Harper visited Kempshott Lane and St Michael’s Road in Basingstoke this week to see how the government’s record funding increase for pothole repairs is creating smoother, quicker journeys for residents as well as supporting the local economy. The Transport Secretary was joined by local councillors and Basingstoke MP Maria Miller to discuss […]
UK Transport Secretary: Khan victory won’t stop fight against LTNs

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has told The Daily Telegraph that Sadiq Khan’s re-election as Mayor of London will not deter him from “continuing to stand up” for drivers. “Our opposition to Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion remains the same, his own impact assessment said it would have a ‘minor to negligible’ effect on air quality so […]
£143 million for better journeys with 955 zero-emission buses

Millions of bus passengers will enjoy cleaner, more reliable and more comfortable journeys as the Government invests a further £143 million to roll out almost a thousand new zero-emission buses in England. Buses Transport Secretary Mark Harper has confirmed that 955 zero-emission buses will hit the road as 25 councils receive funding to decarbonise their bus […]
£4.7bn of reallocated HS2 funding to be spent across North and Midlands

The Government says millions of people in the North and the Midlands will benefit from better public transport, reduced congestion and upgraded local bus and train stations thanks to the new £4.7 billion Local Transport Fund announced today (26 February). Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Mark Harper have confirmed that the North will […]
Council calls on Transport Secretary and National Highways to prioritise A40 works

Monmouthshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment has contacted the Transport Secretary Mark Harper to ask for the current single lane traffic restrictions on the A40 to be relocated to the east of the Dixton roundabout to ease traffic on the A40 and Wye Bridge. The request also included that future works […]
Transport Secretary announces Sir Gareth Rhys Williams as new National Highways Chair

The Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, has announced that Sir Gareth Rhys Williams will be taking up the position of Chair of National Highways, following a competitive selection process. He joins the organisation as National Highways completes its delivery of the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) and prepares for the third Road Investment Strategy. In his […]
Unprecedented response to Plan for Drivers traffic signals funding challenge process

The Transport Technology Forum has revealed that more than 97% of authorities who could apply for a share of £40 million of new money to make traffic signals more efficient put in a bid for funding. As part of the Department for Transport’s Plan for Drivers, announced by Secretary of State Mark Harper last October, […]
Harper suggests driverless cars on UK roads by 2026

The Transport Secretary says driverless cars could be on our roads by 2026, as they are “gradually” introduced. Mark Harper was responding to questions from motoring journalist and Grand Tour host James May on the BBC’s Today Programme, when Mr May was guest editor. He said: “The legislation is going through Parliament at the moment […]
UK Government spends £8m on improving A75 in Scotland

The transport secretary has announced new measures to better connect Scotland including plans for improvements to the A75 between Gretna and Stranraer. The money, announced by Transport Secretary Mark Harper is in response to Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review. It includes £8m to the Scottish Government to support their business case development for the […]