Transport infrastructure priorities in Wales in a post Covid-19 world

Overview

In their first Annual Report, The Future Prosperity and Well-Being of Wales and the Role of Infrastructure, published in November 2019, the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICfW) issued a call for evidence.  Transport featured highly with strategic connectivity, improved links (north south), a net zero infrastructure network, rural transport and reducing the need to travel being key areas of interest to the NICW.

The Wales Infrastructure Alliance (WIA)* responded citing insufficient investment in new and existing infrastructure, combined with a lack of positive decision-making as the biggest threat to undermining the aspirations for closing the gap between Wales the rest of the United Kingdom. This would also harm our response to addressing the Climate Change Emergency.

And then came the Covid-19 pandemic. This has fundamentally changed how we view transport infrastructure and travel in general. The new ‘norm’ involves less travel, more home-working, a rapid increase in online shopping, more active travel (weather permitting!) and increasing demand for personal space when travelling and socialising.

So what should be the transport infrastructure priorities in Wales in a post Covid -19 world?

*The WIA draws together like-minded organisations representing over 600 member companies and over 10,000 individual members from across the infrastructure sector. The WIA is formed from ICE, CECA, ACE, CIWM, CEW, CIWEM. CIHT and IStructE. The Alliance sees itself as a source of advice (to the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales) and potential solutions to enable the delivery of 'world-class' infrastructure in Wales to drive our future wellbeing as a nation.