1. Better roads: environment and sustainability
Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport

2. Rising to the Challenge
joint report from 17 NGOs
sets out challenges and priorities for RIS2
proposes new performance metrics
includes case studies from UK and beyond .

3. Our priorities for RIS2 Three key principles: Fix it first
Integrated approach
Environmental leadership
Five themes for action:
Low carbon future
Landscape & heritage
Enhancing biodiversity
Protecting health
Reconnecting communities
We set these principles and identify areas of action for RIS2 and the SRN as a whole

4. Fix it first Improve current network ahead of new capacity
Focus on safety and maintenance
Continue to deliver the green retrofit
Mainstream RIS1 innovation into RIS2 business as usual
New road capacity as a last resort
Fix it first: focusing time and money on making the roads we have better, safer and greener as more of a priority than new capacity

5. An integrated approach
Integrated, multi-modal approach to planning transport corridors, rather than roads in isolation
Better connections with other networks and other modes, including bus and coach services
Sustainable development of homes and jobs
Partnership working, for example in Clean Air Zones
Joined up working in how we plan corridors, work with other transport providers and with local authorities and NGOs on shared challenges. RIS2 big pot, could have bigger impact if delivered in partnership (as with Housing & Growth Fund).

6. Environmental leadership
Cutting CO2
Improving air quality
Reversing decline in biodiversity
Whole system approach, EMAS
Use natural interventions where possible
Embrace environmental targets as a positive goal not a negative constraint. These big environmental challenges won’t be solved unless every sector plays its part.

7. Low carbon future
We’ve identified these themes for delivering the principles of retrofit, integration and environmental leadership. Lots of detail and examples in the report, and we’ll just draw out a few now

8. Landscape & heritage
We’ve identified these themes for delivering the principles of retrofit, integration and environmental leadership. Lots of detail and examples in the report, and we’ll just draw out a few now

9. Enhancing biodiversity
We’ve identified these themes for delivering the principles of retrofit, integration and environmental leadership. Lots of detail and examples in the report, and we’ll just draw out a few now

10. Protecting our health
We’ve identified these themes for delivering the principles of retrofit, integration and environmental leadership. Lots of detail and examples in the report, and we’ll just draw out a few now

11. Reconnecting communities
We’ve identified these themes for delivering the principles of retrofit, integration and environmental leadership. Lots of detail and examples in the report, and we’ll just draw out a few now

12. Learning from best practice
Recognising good practice in RIS1
EV charging points at service stations
Green bridge plans for A38
High quality cycling design guidance
Learning from others
National Grid VIP projects
Netherlands green bridges
California’s bioswales
There’s already been some good practice in RIS1 – the picture is the proposed green bridge at Haldon Hill on the A38 - and we want to see more in RIS2, learning from other examples in the UK and abroad eg the National Grid VIP project

13. Performance metrics Measure outcomes not only activity
Ecological status of water not only no. of culverts
Usage of crossings not only no. of crossing points
Tackle impacts at source
Noise reducing surfacing not only barriers or glazing
Draw on best practice
use Natural Capital Accounting
measure Zone of Theoretical Visibility
The report proposes a comprehensive set of performance metrics underpinning the themes: some examples here of how we want to use best practice to focus on better outcomes and tackle problems at source.

14. Designated funds We want to see the funds retained in RIS2:
Allocate the resources necessary to deliver the green retrofit effectively
Publish full information on how the funds are spent and the learning from funded projects
Develop partnership working
Engage the expertise of the wider NGO sector
We were delighted that our calls for a green retrofit in RIS1 helped lead to the creation of the designated funds: now we want to see them retained, expanded and supported to be a really effective resource, not only in funding schemes efficiently but also in sharing the learning

15. Better design
We want to see the Design Panel retained and resourced to:
Engage with key schemes at the concept stage
Retain oversight throughout the design and delivery process on sensitive schemes
Conduct a post opening review as to whether design objectives were met.
The Design Panel has made a great start and has got its design principles in place. In RIS2 we want to see it empowered to engage with sensitive schemes from concept through to post opening review.

16. Evidence-based approach
CPRE report ‘End of the Road’
increased road capacity fails to relieve congestion
environmental damage yet limited economic benefit
New road capacity should be a last resort
DfT commissioned rail freight study
transferring 2000 lorry loads a day to rail = taking 8000 cars off the road
Daventry interchange removes 64 million HGV miles a year
Our RIS2 submissions draw on a range of evidence. CPRE’s report looked at over 70 POPE reviews and found fresh evidence for induced traffic, limited economic benefit and significant environmental damage. Meanwhile a DfT sponsored study into the potential for rail freight found it can take thousands of lorry trips off the road network. This helps support our approach that new road building should be a last resort.

17. Using data to make a difference
Northants A45 study
Uses mobile phone & postcode data to map car journeys on the A45 trunk road
102,000 cars a day
c80% single occupancy trips
Northants now prioritising car share
Identifying potential new bus routes
Potential to reduce 20% of all traffic on corridor
Technology isn’t just about driverless cars. We believe it’s possible to accommodate growth in activity without having equivalent growth in traffic, through making best use of data. In Northamptonshire, one of the Total Transport pilots, the county and university are working together to identify single occupancy car trips on the A45 trunk road and then incentivise them to car share or swap to bus or bike. This example is from our separate submission on RIS2 and we’re happy to share more details.

18. Next steps: Greener Roads project
Funded by Rees Jeffreys Roads Fund
What does “good” look like in road design?
Scope for environmentally-focused road schemes and green retrofit
UK and international best practice

19. Our vision for greener roads
In summary:
Fix it first: improve the current network, including green retrofit, with new road capacity a last resort
Integrated approach: corridor planning, join up with other modes and other networks
Environmental leadership: system-wide focus on low carbon future, air quality, biodiversity
Commit resources to deliver greener roads