The important role transport plays in our lives is often overlooked.
It is vital for economic growth, social connectivity, accessibility, and environmental sustainability, and it forms the backbone of modern society.
Transport systems enable the efficient movement of goods and people. They reduce operational costs, attract businesses, and support job creation, creating positive multiplier effects on the economy.
The Scottish Government has committed to empower regional partnerships to drive growth. In his November 2025 statement, the First Minister talked about providing regions with the powers required to deliver on regional priorities, specifically on competences such as economic development, planning and skills. Since that date, all parties involved in these discissions have also recognised the importance of transport to enabling and driving economic growth.
And the timing couldn’t be better. Across Scotland, transport is likely to be impacted by several ongoing conversations about how decisions are made and delivered. These include the Scottish Government’s public service reform agenda, reviews of transport governance (i.e. the split of roles and responsibilities between national, regional and local levels) and funding, and proposals to give regional partnerships greater powers and responsibilities in the future. Together, these discussions present a significant opportunity to rethink how transport is planned and delivered.
For those of us working in regional transport, the direction of travel is clear. More and more policy areas are recognising that some challenges are best tackled at a regional level. Economic growth, skills, planning and infrastructure all cross local authority boundaries. Transport does too.
We know that people do not live their lives entirely within council boundaries. They travel across the region every day for work, education, healthcare and leisure. Businesses depend on networks that connect places and people. When those connections are not joined up, opportunities can be lost.
That is why regional working matters.
The good news is that Scotland already has Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) in place. For more than twenty years, RTPs have brought councils together to plan strategically and take a regional view of transport. But our role has evolved significantly beyond simply producing strategies.
In recent years, we have demonstrated that regional collaboration can deliver real results. Alongside developing our Regional Transport Strategy, we have coordinated the collaborative procurement of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, worked with partners to identify and prioritise major regional transport projects, and developed programmes that address some of the biggest transport challenges facing our communities.
These programmes include SEStransit, our work to develop a regional mass transit network, the Regional Bus Strategy Delivery Plan, our People and Place programme supporting active travel, and initiatives focused on improving access to healthcare and employment. Each of these programmes recognises a simple reality: transport is about much more than moving people from one place to another. It is about creating opportunity, supporting economic growth and improving quality of life.
What makes this moment particularly important is that we do not necessarily need to wait for new legislation to start delivering change. Existing regional structures already provide a platform for stronger collaboration and more integrated planning. RTPs have the ability to work across local authority boundaries, bring partners together and focus on outcomes that benefit the wider region.
At a time when public bodies are being asked to reduce duplication, improve efficiency and work more closely together, transport partnerships can play an important role. We sit at the intersection of transport, economic development and land use planning. That gives us a unique perspective and an opportunity to help shape how regional ambitions are delivered in practice.
Of course, governance structures are only a means to an end. What ultimately matters is whether people experience better outcomes. Can they get to work more easily? Can employers access the workforce they need? Can patients reach healthcare appointments? Can businesses move goods efficiently and sustainably? Strong regional collaboration helps us answer those questions positively.
The conversations taking place over the coming months will help shape the future of regional governance in Scotland. As those discussions continue, I believe there is a strong case for transport to be at the heart of them.
After all, if we want thriving regional economies, sustainable communities and effective public services, we need transport systems that connect people, places and opportunities. RTPs already have a proven track record of bringing organisations together to achieve shared goals. The challenge now is to build on that success and make sure transport remains at the forefront of Scotland’s journey towards stronger regional delivery.
