Shetland Transport Strategy 2022-2042 Development

Shetland Transport Strategy 2022-2042 Development

ZetTrans is producing a new Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) and has appointed Stantec UK Ltd to support in this work.

Information on the development of the RTS, including the approach being taken and how to input into the process is provided below. This section will be continually updated as the Strategy develops.

Overview

Under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 it is the duty of each Transport Partnership to draw up a strategy for transport within its region. The current ZetTrans RTS was first published in 2008 and was refreshed in 2017-18 to cover the period 2018-28. Given the evolving policy environment, including the publication of the new National Transport Strategy (NTS2), and wider societal changes, there is now a need to produce a new RTS.

The new Strategy will set the strategic framework for the development of transport, both within Shetland and to / from the Scottish Mainland over the next 20-year period with the aim of delivering a transport system that reduces inequalities, takes climate action, helps deliver inclusive economic growth and improves the health and wellbeing of Shetland.

The issues which the RTS will consider are wide-ranging and will take into account the situation now and how this is likely to evolve in the future. Consideration will be given to:

• the changing socio-economic and demographic profile of Shetland
• future developments in the transport industry and their potential impact in the Shetland context, including the development of alternative fuels, automation, and shared mobility
• response to Climate Change
• current and potential future changes in travel patterns due to changes in the workplace and the way we shop – trends which may be accelerated by COVID-19
• transport inequalities which exist due to differing levels of access to opportunities and services both across Shetland and amongst different groups within Shetland society
• internal connectivity between Shetland’s island communities and the Shetland mainland
• the future development of the active travel, bus, internal air and ferry and road network in Shetland
• external connectivity via both the air and ferry network
• transport integration, including the potential for integrated ticketing
• the overall cost of travel.

Approach

The new ZetTrans RTS will be developed in line with the principles of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and will involve three broad phases:

Stage 1: Initial Appraisal: The Case for Change – this will set out:

• Analysis of the transport problems, issues, constraints, and opportunities in Shetland and external connections
• Establishment of a Vision and Transport Planning Objectives (TPOs) which reflect the above problems

Stage 2: Preliminary Appraisal – this stage involves the generation, development and appraisal of a long-list of transport options against the:

• Vision and Transport Planning Objectives
• STAG Criteria
  • Environment
  • Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
  • Economy
  • Equality and Accessibility
  • Established Policy Directives
  • Feasibility, Affordability, and Public Acceptability
  • Sustainable Investment Hierarchy and Sustainable Travel Hierarchy
  • Risk and Uncertainty
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) Criteria

Stage 3: RTS Document – this will collate the outputs of the above tasks into a Strategy and an associated Delivery Plan.

Progress

ZetTrans has now completed a Regional Transport Strategy Draft and is seeking Feedback.

Summary information on the strategy and its development is available here

Feedback on the report can be submitted through this online survey.

The information gathered through the survey will be used to inform the final stage of the RTS development process.

The survey will remain open until Friday 24th February 2023. You must be 16 years of age or above to complete the survey. If you require assistance with completing the questionnaire, please get in touch via ZetTransRTS@stantec.com.