A fresh look at problems along the M4 through Newport has been promised by the Welsh Government’s South East Wales Transport Commission.
It was created after First Minister Mark Drakeford vetoed a new motorway south of the south east Wales city to relieve congestion on the current M4 through the Brynglas Tunnels.
In a scoping document today (wed 16 Oct 2019), Lord Burns, Chair of the South East Wales Transport Commission, said, “A high-quality and efficient transport network helps people widen their lives – getting to work, school, hospital or places of leisure.
“There is clearly an acute transport problem which is affecting the lives of people who live, work and travel in South East Wales. I wholeheartedly recognise the scale and importance of this task, the history of its past consideration and the weight of feeling of those with an interest in the issues.
“Our vision as a Commission is to recommend a set of measures which will alleviate congestion in a sustainable way that supports the wider well-being of people who live, work and travel in the area.”
The commission will work along seven principles: A fresh approach to congestion causes; evidence-based; options of alternative transport; unfettered by earlier studies; ignore new motorway; involve those affected and lastly be clear.
It will publish a progress report by the end of this year, an interim report next spring and conclusion before 2021.
