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Departmental strategic objectives

As part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review a new performance management framework has been announced. Thirty new cross-government Public Service Agreements (PSAs) set out the Government’s priority outcomes over the period 2008-2011.  Under this framework the Department will lead on one PSA. Deliver reliable and efficient transport networks that support economic growth. 

The delivery agreement that underpins our PSA can be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr_csr07_psa5.pdf (PDF, 328kb). This PSA specifically focuses on the contribution that transport makes to economic growth. Other priorities for the Government’s transport policy are covered in other PSA outcomes to which transport is a significant contributor. The Department's wider transport aims for the CSR period are also reflected in our five Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs). Each of these DSOs is underpinned by key performance indicators that are used to measure progress and success. DfT’s DSOs and the key indicators are set out below[1]:

DSO1: To support national economic competitiveness and growth, by delivering reliable and efficient transport networks

  • Journey time on main roads in urban areas.
  • Journey time reliability on the strategic road network, as measured by the average delay experienced in the worst 10 per cent of journeys for each monitored route.
  • Level of capacity and crowding on the rail network  
  • Average benefit cost ratio of investments approved over the CSR07 period
  • By March 2014 achieve reliability on the railway as measured by the Public Performance Measure Moving Annual Average (PPM MAA) of 92.6 per cent. 

DSO2: To reduce transport’s emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, with the desired outcome of avoiding dangerous climate change

  • Develop a carbon reduction strategy for transport
  • Agree an improved EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the post-2012 period that includes aviation.
  • Introduce the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation - requiring 5 per cent of all UK fuel sold on UK forecourts to come from a renewable source by 2010.
  • Introduce successor arrangements to the Voluntary Agreements with car manufacturers on new car CO2.

DSO3: To contribute to better safety, security and health and longer life- expectancy through reducing the risk of death, injury or illness arising from transport, and promoting travel modes that are beneficial to health

  • Contribute to meeting the Air Quality Strategy objectives for eight air pollutants as illustrated by trends in measurements of two of the more important pollutants which affect public health: particulate matter (PM 10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
  • Reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 50 per cent by 2010 compared with the average for 1994-1998, tackling the significantly higher incidence in disadvantaged communities.
  • Reduce the overall number of people killed or seriously injured in Great Britain in road accidents by 40 per cent by 2010 compared with the average for 1994-1998, tackling the significantly higher incidence in disadvantaged communities. 
  • Deliver Transport’s contribution to the Home Office led PSA: target to ‘reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from international terrorism.

DSO4: To promote greater equality of opportunity for all citizens, with the desired outcome of achieving a fairer society

  • Ensure compliance of the bus fleet by 2017.
  • Ensure compliance of heavy rail by 2020.
  • Increase the number of stations re/accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme by 15 per cent.
  • Access to services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling.

DSO5: To improve quality of life for transport users and non-transport users, and to promote a healthy natural environment 

  • Meet critical milestones for relevant transport infrastructure delivery for the 2012 Olympics ensuring delivery stays within approved budgets.
  • Open High Speed One services at Stratford International in line with agreed timetable.
  • Ensure the rail industry produces Noise Action Plans, in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive, and delivers in line with the agreed Plans.    

[1] The indicators cover 2009-10. Additional, alternative and updated indicators will be added to this page particularly as work on Towards a Sustainable Transport System develops in the future.