Independent Transport Commission
Encyclopedia
The Independent Transport Commission, abbreviated to ITC, is a research charity
and think tank
based in the United Kingdom
, devoted to exploring issues in the fields of transport, planning and land use. It is politically neutral, and has established a reputation as a nationally respected independent voice on transport and planning policy.
It played a key role shaping policy in the 2000s with the publication of a series of authoritative and groundbreaking reports on road pricing, suburban planning, long distance travel, and the future of transport.
The Commission delivers its work by publishing reports and policy papers, hosting special lectures and discussion evenings, and meeting with senior officials. It is currently chaired by Simon Linnett, Vice-Chairman of N M Rothschild & Sons
.
government's transport white paper entitled 'A New Deal for Transport: Better for everyone
', Stephen Joseph, director of Transport 2000
, suggested to Bernard Jenkin
MP, the then Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary, that he would benefit from the services of a 'think tank'.
In the event, putting together a think tank to serve the Shadow Secretary of State proved impractical. Many of those approached liked the idea but did not want to serve a political party. This impasse was resolved when, thanks to Professor Mike McDonald, the infant ITC was offered a home by Professor Sir Howard Newby, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton
. The 'Independent Transport Commission', as it was then christened, was formally launched at the Royal Society of Arts
in October 1999.
to the Department for Transport
, to be its Chairman. Sir Patrick led the Commission through several major projects, encouraging greater boldness in Labour's transport policy, and leading debate on a number of issues. He was succeeded by Dr David Quarmby CBE, who steered the Commission through the development of a new Long Distance Travel forecasting model, the first of its kind. In 2009 Quarmby left to lead the RAC Foundation
and was succeeded by Simon Linnett, Executive Vice Chairman of Rothschild.
The election of the Conservative led coalition
in 2010 led to fresh opportunities after the spending cuts saw the demise of the government's own transport quango
, the Commission for Integrated Transport, leaving the ITC as the main think tank in the field. The ITC's own work on Transport Appraisal and Spending was later submitted to the Transport Select Committee
for discussion.
. The Commission uses these to develop new policy thinking, and guest speakers at previous events have included Sir David King, Professor Stephen Glaister
, and Andrew Haines.
Government's Transport
10 Year Plan the ITC released in 2001 a report on 'Tomorrow's Transport' calling for bolder policy initiatives to tackle potential future problems. The report was widely reviewed, particularly the conclusion that traffic would eventually become increasingly unmanageable in suburban and rural areas, and helped shift policy in the direction of 'liveable streets'.
Long Distance Travel – In 2010 the ITC published the results of a three-year project developing a model to forecast long distance travel demand in Britain. The study indicated that economic growth remained the single biggest factor affecting long distance travel demand in Britain, and noted that in the absence of major policy measures the demand for air travel would accelerate. The findings have recently been seized by the opposition to High Speed 2
to show that passenger growth arising from High Speed Rail could be limited.
to report on the future of British Suburbs and Exurbs. Echenique's report warned that current policies would encourage suburban expansion, increasing both commuting times and carbon emissions, forcing a rethink of government policy.
Land Use Effects of the 10 Year Plan – Fearing that transport and land use policy had become increasingly disconnected, in 2002 the ITC commissioned Sir Peter Hall to investigate the land use effects of the Government's 10 Year Plan. Hall's conclusions that the Plan would encourage urban sprawl and threaten regeneration was credited with encouraging a re-orientation of policy towards more brownfield development.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, devoted to exploring issues in the fields of transport, planning and land use. It is politically neutral, and has established a reputation as a nationally respected independent voice on transport and planning policy.
It played a key role shaping policy in the 2000s with the publication of a series of authoritative and groundbreaking reports on road pricing, suburban planning, long distance travel, and the future of transport.
The Commission delivers its work by publishing reports and policy papers, hosting special lectures and discussion evenings, and meeting with senior officials. It is currently chaired by Simon Linnett, Vice-Chairman of N M Rothschild & Sons
N M Rothschild & Sons
N M Rothschild & Sons is a private investment banking company, belonging to the Rothschild family...
.
Foundation
Following the publication in 1998 of the LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government's transport white paper entitled 'A New Deal for Transport: Better for everyone
A New Deal for Transport: Better for everyone
A New Deal for Transport: Better for everyone was a white paper published by the United Kingdom government in 1997 setting out the government's transport policy.-External links:*...
', Stephen Joseph, director of Transport 2000
Transport 2000
The Campaign for Better Transport is a UK advocacy group that promotes better bus and rail services and for supportive policies and for less expenditure on road building...
, suggested to Bernard Jenkin
Bernard Jenkin
Bernard Christison Jenkin is a politician in the United Kingdom, and the current Member of Parliament for Harwich and North Essex...
MP, the then Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary, that he would benefit from the services of a 'think tank'.
In the event, putting together a think tank to serve the Shadow Secretary of State proved impractical. Many of those approached liked the idea but did not want to serve a political party. This impasse was resolved when, thanks to Professor Mike McDonald, the infant ITC was offered a home by Professor Sir Howard Newby, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
. The 'Independent Transport Commission', as it was then christened, was formally launched at the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
in October 1999.
The New Labour Era
In 2000 the Commission invited Sir Patrick Brown, former Permanent SecretaryPermanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
to the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
, to be its Chairman. Sir Patrick led the Commission through several major projects, encouraging greater boldness in Labour's transport policy, and leading debate on a number of issues. He was succeeded by Dr David Quarmby CBE, who steered the Commission through the development of a new Long Distance Travel forecasting model, the first of its kind. In 2009 Quarmby left to lead the RAC Foundation
RAC Foundation
The RAC Foundation is a motoring advocacy group that 'explores the economic, environmental, mobility and safety issues relating to roads and motor vehicles and campaigns to secure a fair deal for responsible road users'...
and was succeeded by Simon Linnett, Executive Vice Chairman of Rothschild.
The election of the Conservative led coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
in 2010 led to fresh opportunities after the spending cuts saw the demise of the government's own transport quango
Quango
Quango or qango is an acronym used notably in the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere to label an organisation to which government has devolved power...
, the Commission for Integrated Transport, leaving the ITC as the main think tank in the field. The ITC's own work on Transport Appraisal and Spending was later submitted to the Transport Select Committee
Select Committee
A select committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
for discussion.
'Forward Thinking' Discussion Evenings
The Independent Transport Commission hosts a regular series of Discussion Evenings at the Alan Baxter Gallery in FarringdonFarringdon
Farringdon is a historic area of the City of London, represented today by the Wards of Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without. Farringdon is also used informally to refer to the area around Farringdon Station in the London Borough of Islington, some distance north of the historic locality.-City...
. The Commission uses these to develop new policy thinking, and guest speakers at previous events have included Sir David King, Professor Stephen Glaister
Stephen Glaister
Stephen Glaister CBE is Professor of Transport and Infrastructure at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London where he is also director of the Railway Technology Strategy Centre; a former board member of Transport for London and director of the RAC Foundation...
, and Andrew Haines.
Influence
In response to the LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Government's Transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
10 Year Plan the ITC released in 2001 a report on 'Tomorrow's Transport' calling for bolder policy initiatives to tackle potential future problems. The report was widely reviewed, particularly the conclusion that traffic would eventually become increasingly unmanageable in suburban and rural areas, and helped shift policy in the direction of 'liveable streets'.
Transport
Road Pricing – The Commission published a series of reports on Road Pricing in the mid 2000s led by Professor Stephen Glaister. The reports were welcomed by the government as evidence that road pricing could pay for new roads. At the same time the ITC noted that the government would have to be clear where the extra money would be spent, and warned that there was a risk of increasing congestion on rural roads.Long Distance Travel – In 2010 the ITC published the results of a three-year project developing a model to forecast long distance travel demand in Britain. The study indicated that economic growth remained the single biggest factor affecting long distance travel demand in Britain, and noted that in the absence of major policy measures the demand for air travel would accelerate. The findings have recently been seized by the opposition to High Speed 2
High Speed 2
High Speed 2 is a proposed high-speed railway between London and the Midlands, the North of England, and potentially at a later stage the central belt of Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two Ltd, a company established by the British government...
to show that passenger growth arising from High Speed Rail could be limited.
Land Use and Planning
Suburbs – The Commission asked Professor Marcial Echenique of the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
to report on the future of British Suburbs and Exurbs. Echenique's report warned that current policies would encourage suburban expansion, increasing both commuting times and carbon emissions, forcing a rethink of government policy.
Land Use Effects of the 10 Year Plan – Fearing that transport and land use policy had become increasingly disconnected, in 2002 the ITC commissioned Sir Peter Hall to investigate the land use effects of the Government's 10 Year Plan. Hall's conclusions that the Plan would encourage urban sprawl and threaten regeneration was credited with encouraging a re-orientation of policy towards more brownfield development.
Major Reports
- Long Distance Travel in Britain, Professor Joyce Dargay, 2010
- Road Pricing in Britain: Winners and Losers, Professor Stephen Glaister and Dr Dan Graham, 2006
- The Future of Suburbs and Exurbs, Professor Marcial Echenique, 2004
- The Land Use Effects of the '10 Year Plan', Professor Sir Peter Hall, 2002