York Press 12th February 2018  “HOPES of dualling the A64 and York’s outer ring road will be boosted by a new strategic transport plan for the North, a public meeting was told. Transport for the North’s 30-year plan will give momentum to the campaign to upgrade the two routes by emphasising the benefits to the wider economy, said interim strategy director Jonathan Spruce.

He said the traditional system of assessment for road improvements was inherently biased in favour of roads in the south because of the greater volumes of traffic there than, for example, on the A64 between York and Scarborough, where high flows were seasonal. He said the strategic plan could provide a counter argument about the importance to the economy of such upgrades. “We hope that by putting it in this wider economic context it gives more momentum behind these schemes,” he said.

“What we are saying is that that connection (the A64) and the A1237 (York outer ring road) is all part of the North’s economically important road network and you need to see it in the context of that long-term plan. How can investors go to Scarborough not knowing whether there is investment in the road and rail connections. This is a long term plan to keep that investment confidence.” He also said that key routes in the York area, such as the outer ring road, A19,A59 and the A1079 down to the Humber ports should have access to the same sources of funding as the A64, as they were equally important parts of the road network.

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