Blueprint on transport to be unveiled

MINISTERS were today set to unveil a long-awaited 20-year blueprint for the country's transport infrastructure.

The National Transport Strategy will set out the long-term vision and objectives for transport across Scotland for the next two decades.

A previous consultation paper said the strategy should look at how to reduce journey times and congestion.

It is also expected to outline how economic growth can be promoted at the same time as protecting the environment.

Transport minister Tavish Scott, who will launch the strategy, said: "Transport is about providing real options for people getting to work, children travelling to school and businesses transporting their goods within and without the Scottish market.

"Traffic volumes continue to grow so it is up to us to put in place viable and attractive public transport alternatives for the future."

The launch comes less than a week after the publication of the Eddington Report.

Sir Rod Eddington, the former British Airways chief executive, was asked to complete a transport study by Chancellor Gordon Brown.