The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has invited tenders for a research project designed to analyse road project impacts in England.
Consultants will be required this summer to review a range of completed road schemes through Post Opening Project Evaluation (POPE) reports, devise recommendations for national policy makers and practitioners and produce a research report by October 2016.
A CPRE spokesman said: ‘We are interested in hearing from a range of people; those with a long-term interest in this area but also those with a fresh approach, who could bring something new to the debate.’
The news comes as the Government started the firing gun on research for the second Roads Investment Strategy (RIS 2) for the strategic road network from 2020-2025.
A CPRE spokesman suggested that with extra cash promised by the chancellor for RIS 2, through ringfenced VED funding, it was essential to understand the evidence base for building new roads compared with other forms of transport or local road upgrades.
‘We agree with the idea of upgrading roads, to improve safety for instance, but, contrary to ministerial comments, the case for major new road schemes benefiting the economy has been described as ‘anecdotal’ at best in the Government’s own POPE reports. Expanding capacity could cause problems and lead to an increase in traffic.’
For further information please contact Ralph Smyth: ralphs@cpre.org.uk
Anyone wishing to submit a quote should do so by 5pm on Thursday 12 May 2016. The invited quote and any supporting material should be sent by email to ralphs@cpre.org.uk with ‘Tender – roads research’ in the subject header.
