When transport seizes up, so does Yorkshire's economy, but the clear routes to success, whether road, rail or air, rely on partnerships within and beyond our borders, argues GRAHAM HALL

CLEARLY something has to be done about the transport problems of Yorkshire and Humberside.

We not only have the second fastest growth in traffic in the UK, but the third lowest investment in transport relief. The two just don't mix.

The snarl-ups on our roads threaten a slowdown in our economy, particularly affecting tourist destinations like York and North Yorkshire.

But businesses and residents in these lovely parts of our region should not get frustrated by the fact that the first action by Yorkshire Forward is being taken elsewhere within Yorkshire and Humberside.

The regional development agency welcomed the publication of the multi-modal studies recently carried out in South and West Yorkshire and separately in Hull. The proposed highway and motorway improvements in the studies will directly address some of the seven transport priorities agreed by partners in Yorkshire and the Humber. But action is being taken in York. Already City of York Council has developed a transport strategy which promotes sustainable transport policy in the area of the city.

It began last year on a rolling programme over five years.

Its priorities: to restrain demand for car travel throughout the district; address the transport needs of rural areas; and manage the impact of traffic on local air quality and the environment.

When it comes to Hull plus South and West Yorkshire, longer-term proposals could also help alleviate the problem of congestion on some of the busiest roads there.

For any of our regions to begin to achieve the economic growth we are aiming for in our Regional Economic Strategies we must work with partners directly involved in planning and financing transport, to get significant transport infrastructure improvements.

For business, an efficient transport system allows swifter and less costly movement of goods and people. That in turn means improved productivity.

And in social terms, if people in deprived communities don't have access to affordable and efficient public transport, this can act as a barrier to stop them connecting to job opportunities - a problem taken on board by the York transport plan.

For Yorkshire and Humber particularly, with our challenging target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region, efficient transport planning of the type being applied in York is vital.

In the north of England, recognition of shared problems and concerns on transport issues has led Yorkshire Forward to work with One NorthEast and the North West Development Agency (who are taking the lead role) to develop shared strategies aimed at increasing our influence in Whitehall.

This latest agreement will maximise the impact of the northern regions, which have a combined population of more than 14 million but still rank seventh, eighth and last among the nine English regions in terms of economic prosperity.

We are already pressing for additional airport capacity, including expansion at Manchester, and the go-ahead for a new airport at Finningley, near Doncaster.

Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) is experiencing growth faster than the UK average, and is expanding to future demand, but there are too few people who can easily access it without a car.

Future growth at Leeds Bradford must be served by significantly improved public transport - a plea regularly made by business people in York and North Yorkshire - and the airport's Surface Access Forum is developing a package of improvements including bus and heavy and light rail, upon which progress must be made.

And rail? The Strategic Rail Authority has decided to separate Trans-Pennine express passenger services from the remainder of local rail passenger services and the franchises for these rail operations are being re-negotiated, so it is vital that we see commitment to improvements to services through the re-franchising process and also in the infrastructure in the ensuing years.

For our entire region to benefit, we also need to see investment in other parts of the UK, particularly the Eastern region with its East Coast mainline, plus broad investment in rail electrification to create a smooth link-up with Eurostar and our trading neighbours.

So yes, there are big problems in York and North Yorkshire, but it makes sense to take a regional approach to transport issues, so that we can formulate a clear set of priorities that address common concerns and problems.

This means we can also formulate common solutions - thereby securing the investment our collective regions need to realise our economic goals.

Updated: 08:44 Tuesday, October 22, 2002