Feedback wanted on Manx transport strategy aims

The consultation is available until 16 September

A new transport strategy for the Isle of Man is set to include aims to reduce residents' dependency on cars and decarbonise the travel network.

The Department of Infrastructure has asked for views on the nine principles underpinning a national programme, which was listed in the government's blueprint Island Plan.

The consultation also asks for people to share their travel habits, such as frequency of off-island journeys and modes of transport whilst on island.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said "safety, sustainability, accessibility and fairness" would form the "foundations" of the strategy.

The survey outlines the principles of the plan, which include encouraging good transport links to "realise economic opportunities", accommodating technological advances and "optimising operational efficiencies" by providing options that were reliable and cost-effective.

'Inclusive'

The plan would then be guided by six aims, which would see work with communities to remove accessibility barriers and road safety improvements.

The rollout would see the "necessary infrastructure" put in place to support the government's target of increasing the population to 100,000 by 2037.

The consultation also said, as personal car use was "high, and comprises almost two thirds of overall transport emissions", a key objective would be to "transition away" from using personal cars to public transport for "everyday trips".

The government said another aim was to "develop an integrated and socially inclusive" plan to meet the needs of communities, by keeping people "connected in work, leisure and access to services", while also supporting the transition to net zero by 2050.

The views gathered in the consultation, which is available online until 16 September, would inform the further development of the plan, Mr Crookall said.

It follows a six-week survey on bus services designed to inform the creation of a new bus strategy, which the department said would be put together in line with the wider transport strategy.