06 December 2006

Ducking the challenges

Saying one thing and doing the opposite - is that not hypocritical? Here is what transport minister Tavish Scott had to say in his press release about the national transport strategy:
"Scotland's transport system faces strong challenges in the future.
Congestion on our roads is increasing, people are buying more cars, and emissions are on the increase.
The challenges we face are significant, but not impossible. To duck them is not an option. We need to make choices, and we need to make choices now for Scotland's future."

So what challenges has he not ducked? The Scotsman seems lost in a welter of modal verbs and conditional clauses (my emphases):
BID TO CUT DELAYS
PRIORITY lanes for buses, lorries and cars carrying passengers could be introduced to speed up journeys and cut delays. Measures to cut congestion at bottlenecks on main routes could nclude lights to restrict traffic joining from slip roads. Vehicles could also be directed to use motorway hard shoulders...
BACKING FOR BUSES
MORE buses may be laid on to take late-night revellers home from town and city centres while funding for bus improvements will be increased, according to the Executive's new bus strategy.
There will be a review of bus stop information, while demand-responsive transport, such as "ring and ride" buses, will be expanded.
ELECTRIC TRAINS
ELECTRIFICATION of the Edinburgh-Glasgow route is recommended by an accompanying rail strategy. This could be extended from the two cities to Dunblane - and even as far as Aberdeen and Inverness. High-speed Edinburgh-Glasgow and Scotland-London links could be pursued after 2014 if studies show a strong case.

And nothing on a new Forth crossing. What about all those choices that need to be made now? For Scotland's future?

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