A Strategy for DETR Integrated Transport Research

This document presents the transport research draft strategy of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). This covering paper summarises the key strategic research issues arising from their ten Year Plan and the overall balance of their research effort. The main focus of the draft strategy is to look at their research across different areas, to identify possible gaps and how to address them. This paper presents an interesting analysis of the transport research strategy of a government institution in a developed country. It can be used as a point of reference for the evaluation of the transport research strategies of other institutions. Furthermore, it can be used to identify general issues about the needs of information for the transport policy making process.

The paper starts by presenting the conclusions of the overall balance of DETR's transport research programmes. They argue that the research has been focussed on road transport and that it should be extended to rail, air, shipping and ports, and social science issues. Based on this evaluation, it identifies the areas that should be addressed by the research activities and defined by the transport research strategy. It describes each of the themes of transport research, analyses their relation to the national policy and defines the research programmes that will be undertaken. The main themes identified are:

- Reducing congestion
- Reducing the impact of transport on the environment
- Improving safety
- Improving and modernising public transport
- Promoting walking, cycling and greener travel
- Promoting socially inclusive and accessible transport
- Managing the asset
- Technology, innovation and futures
- Modelling and analysis
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Land use planning
- International experience
- Evaluation