Rewrite the rules for transport scheme appraisal, big cities tell ministers

Criticisms of the DfT’s transport appraisal procedures have rumbled on for years. A new report for Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester explains how appraisal should be revamped to capture the ‘real economy’ impacts of investment

Andrew Forster

28 November 2014

Bridget Rosewell, senior partner at Volterra Partners

Leaders of England’s biggest city regions joined forces this month to call for a fundamental change to how major transport investments in urban areas are appraised. Among those endorsing the call were London transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy, Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, and Centro chief executive Geoff Inskip. The reforms they want to see are explained in a report by economics consultant Volterra Partners, commissioned by Transport for London and...