4. What plans does Transport for Wales have for relieving congestion to the east of Cardiff? OAQ(5)0159(EI)

Transport for Wales provides support and advice to advance the Welsh Government’s vision for delivering a transformational integrated transport system in Wales, providing high-quality, safe, affordable and sustainable transport for all.

Well, we can certainly agree on that. But it’s now five years since Mark Barry’s report ‘A Metro for Wales’ Capital City Region’ and two years since the Cardiff capital region board agreed we needed an integrated transport system as a catalyst for economic change. Meanwhile, more and more people are piling in to Cardiff and Newport by car and massively increasing the congestion and the air pollution problem. The map of possible metro stations seems to have no more status than a piece of artwork. I just wondered if the Cabinet Secretary can tell us when the people of Cardiff and Newport are going to be able to shape the new metro map to deliver that modal shift that everybody seems to recognise is needed.

As has been regularly said, the metro is a dynamic piece of work with a timetable that we are sticking to and, by 2023, services will be begin. I’m pleased that recently we were able to give details of two stations to the east of Cardiff that will be taken forward with a view of securing the appropriate funding to upgrade them, those being Llanwern and St Mellons, but I’m also pleased to have recently met recently with incredible volunteers at Magor station who would like to see their particular facility upgraded and modernised as well. I recently wrote to that group and to Members with an update on how we will be supporting that particular community.

I think it’s essential that, as we develop metro phase 3—and right now we’re in phase 2, where we are procuring the operator and development partner—but in phase 3 we will see future rail extensions and further bus integration across the metro map area. I think it’s essential that we deliver a wide range of benefits by engaging with people across communities to determine where investment needs to go, and how that investment can link up to other forms of travel, primarily active travel, so that people can get to and from metro services on foot, or on bike.

Cabinet Secretary, a recent survey by INRIX Roadway Analytics found that business in Cardiff was particularly badly impacted by congestion. I think we think we need to take these UK-wide surveys very seriously. Now, one way of relieving traffic at peak times is to invest in a Cardiff parkway railway station at St Mellons, and associated park-and-ride facilities. I think your decision to examine the feasibility of this station was widely welcomed. I wonder how far advanced your scrutiny is now.

I will provide information in writing to Members on the stages at which all of the projects that we’re now taking forward are currently at. Certainly, with St Mellons, the creation of a significant park-and-ride facility will reduce congestion into Cardiff city centre, but it will also ensure that businesses can continue to grow, against a fiercely competitive environment just across the border.

We know that, between congestion on the M4 and the existence of tolls at the Severn bridge, there are significant factors working against our interests in driving economic growth. We wish to remove both of those. I’m pleased that political parties in London have now recognised the need to remove the Severn bridge tolls.

It’s now essential that we resolve the congestion problems on the M4. But that won’t just be delivered via an M4 relief road—it does require considerable investment in the infrastructure that will enable people to take public transport and indeed participate in active travel into and around the city centre.