Local authorities are transport, highway, street-works and traffic authorities. Transport is a loose term to include highways maintenance, maintenance of bridges and structures, road safety, public transport, community transport, transport planning, traffic management, managing congestion, coordination of utilities works (this is not an exhaustive list).
Local authorities are responsible for 32,000km of roads in Wales. This amounts to 95% of the total road network as the National Assembly for Wales is responsible for the Trunk and Motorway Network.
Under the Transport Act 2000 local authorities were charged with developing safe, integrated, efficient and effective transport policy within their areas. Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 Local Authorities were also charged with the expeditious movement of traffic in their area.
To achieve the aspirations set out in legislation Councils have to work in partnership with transport operators – bus and rail, the construction sector, planning, utilities, transport groups and especially important, with each other. All 22 Local Authorities participate in regional consortia with the aim of coordination, modal shift and effective and integrated transport solutions being delivered. There are four regional consortia in Wales:
- SWWITCH (South West Wales)
- SEWTA (South East Wales)
- Taith (North Wales)
- TRaCC (Mid Wales)
For more information contact: Rachel Jowitt