Thread by @SmarterCam

The @CambsPboroCA Strategic Outline Business Case for the #A10 upgrade between Cambridge & Ely has been published:
cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/about-us/progr…
@CPRECambs @ElyCycle @RailfutureEA @camcycle @TransportActio2 @Phil_Goodwin99 @xr_cambridge @cam_commons @CarbonNtrlCambs @FewsLane

The analysis, by @JacobsConnects, finds Option A (full dualling with bypasses) to have the highest benefit-cost ratio (5.5) and best strategic fit.

In so doing, it echoes the prejudged solution set out in the Local Transport Plan:

It also cites the 2014 Transport Strategy for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, which proposed more road capacity between Waterbeach New Town and the A14 interchange at Milton:

The report claims all options for sustainable transport options have been explored exhaustively, and that additional highway capacity is therefore essential to avoid the A10 being a “barrier” to economic growth and delivery of new housing. This is an utter failure of imagination.

The analysis of carbon emissions from vehicles alone (i.e. *not* including construction) shows they will increase, taking us further not closer to #NetZero:

Far from suggesting that this is not compliant with the #ClimateChangeAct or the moral imperative to treat the #ClimateEmergency as a genuine emergency, the report suggests there may be some opportunities to “mitigate” the increased carbon emissions:

These are the “potential” mitigations the report suggests, any of which may be justified in their own right (i.e. should not depend upon dualling the A10):

To then assert, “These measures [dualling + mitigations] will assist the government to achieve their target of 24% reduction in UK transport emissions,” without any qualification, conditions or evidence is either delusional or dishonest.

The report also disingenuously downplays the induced demand effect that dualling the road will inevitably have (the evidence for induced demand is well known and understood by transport planners):

All in all, a highly regressive piece of analysis that promotes business-as-usual with nothing more than a perfunctory nod towards decarbonisation, ecological sustainability, public health and providing socially just #TransportForAll (not just car owners).

The cost for Option A? £188,390,833

You can find more general thoughts about the #A10 upgrade in response to the public consultation in July:
smartertransport.uk/responding-to-…