Highways Agency (Hansard, 27 February 2001)

§ Mr. Hill

Key targets set for the Highways Agency are included in the Agency's Business Plan which will be published tomorrow. A copy will be placed in the Library.

These targets are: to maintain the network so that the proportion requiring maintenance within the next year is held between 7 and 8 per cent.; to upgrade, and have operational with agents, the Highways Agency Pavement Management System; to put in place a computer based road structures asset management system (Structures Management Information System); to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on motorways and trunk roads by 416 to 4,575 (compared with the 1994–98 average of 4,991); to reduce the slight casualty rate to 21.59 slight casualties per hundred million-vehicle km (compared with the 1994–98 average of 22.14); 634W to complete at least 10 early action schemes aimed at improving safety; to complete at lea it 11 early action schemes aimed at tackling congestion; Install at least 68 motorway Close Circuit TV cameras; to achieve an average annual target of 90 per cent. across the six environment programme sub-indicators; to install automatic hold up warning systems on at least 128km of motorway length; and to achieve at least 13 of the 15 Targeted Programme of Improvements scheme milestones listed in the Business Plan; to put the Agency s property to economic use ensuring that the percentage of vacant residential properties at the end of the year does not exceed 15 per cent. of the residential portfolio, and the percentage of vacant habitable properties empty for more than six months at the end of the year does not exceed 3 per cent. of the residential portfolio.

2001–02 is the first full year of the implementation of the Government's 10-Year Plan for Transport. These targets reflect the progress which the Highways Agency will deliver in contributing to the objectives of providing a safe, well maintained and less congested strategic road network.