I’m normally pretty positive and optimistic…and have talked and written at length about Metros in Wales in such a manner, even with some small measure of critique. For example, in these blogs from 2022: Wales’ Metros – Update Feb 2022 Do you believe in Metro? and these earlier papers from 2018 (which events have overtaken … Continue reading Metro Moans for 2023…
Category: Mixed-use development
Mark Barry, May 2022: Submission to Senedd Climate Change Committee
This is a version of my submission to the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, in May 2022 as part of their review of bus and rail transport in Wales . The transcript is here. To note: the views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of Mark Barry and no other person … Continue reading Mark Barry, May 2022: Submission to Senedd Climate Change Committee
Wales’ Metros – Update Feb 2022
A summary of this blog appeared in the Business Section of the Western Mail in March 2022 There has been some recent coverage in the media and some social media chatter about Wales’ Metro projects, their status and what they might deliver. Given my involvement in all of them – Cardiff/South Wales since 2010 and … Continue reading Wales’ Metros – Update Feb 2022
Levelling Up, Working Together? A Transport Enhancement Programme for Wales
A challenge to UK & Welsh Governments... A summary of this article appeared in the Western Mail on 28th June 2021 PS some minor edits made in Sep 2022 Most of you will know that I have written and spoken at length over the last few years on Welsh rail, the lack of enhancement funding … Continue reading Levelling Up, Working Together? A Transport Enhancement Programme for Wales
The Environment, Tax and Wales
I’ve tried to write this blog a few times over the last year - and failed. So here is another brief attempt that sets out for me some of the primary considerations that need to be reflected in our fiscal systems – which I assert are now completely out of sync with the world we … Continue reading The Environment, Tax and Wales
A Public Transport Grid for the M4 Corridor…
July 2020... In March 2020, I submitted a paper to the South East Wales Transport Commission to consider in their deliberations over the M4. This essentially is that paper (with a few minor updates and reflections) which draws much from my blog “No new M4… so what instead” [i] from Summer 2019. There is nothing … Continue reading A Public Transport Grid for the M4 Corridor…
What sort of Wales do we want?
A version of this article also appeared Nation Cymru in March 2020 I have also written another related blog (Jan 2021) that covers Tax, Climate Change and Wales' ability to sustain a viable economy as an independent nation in July 2021, I followed up with, "What sort of Britain do we want?" What sort of … Continue reading What sort of Wales do we want?
Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region #2
Last year I published a blog on Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region. This provoked a lot of discussion and some feedback from me in subsequent blogs. To bring some shape to the debate, the Design Commission for Wales working with me, Cardiff University, Tirion Homes, Community Housing Cymru, Cardiff Capital Region and … Continue reading Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region #2
Cardiff Transport White Paper
As a guide, its only 20~30% of traffic at peak times that causes 100% of congestion. So, we need to direct capital investment to provide sufficiently attractive public transport and active travel options to encourage 20~30% less car journeys - not building more roads to induce more car use. In doing so, we also need … Continue reading Cardiff Transport White Paper
WG National Development Framework – some quick reflections…
In August this year, Welsh Government (WG) published its National Development Framework[i] (NDF) for consultation (which is designed to complement and provide more spatial priorities for Planning Policy Wales PPW published in 2018[ii]). There is much to applaud – especially the emphasis on Transit Oriented Development (see Policy 1 - Sustainable Urban Growth) and the … Continue reading WG National Development Framework – some quick reflections…
A Cardiff Crossrail…
This blog first published in 2019 to support the Cardiff Council Transport White Paper... PS Jan 2023 - Worth looking at #1 in this blog re: pragmatic phasing of Cardiff Crossrail...A few more Jan 2023 PSs below as well... Cardiff Council have just announced a key component in their developing transport vision - A Cardiff … Continue reading A Cardiff Crossrail…
No new M4…so what instead?
A quick brain dump of some ideas (which is a follow up to my earlier piece on why I agree with the WG decision in respect of the M4)..….nothing new under the sun! I have also made a few tweaks and updated the map in response to some comments/suggestions... ....I also penned an article in … Continue reading No new M4…so what instead?
Climate Change, Brexit and The Economy (…and Wales)
I originally wrote this piece in May 2019...so yes events (esp #brexit) have moved on, but I still stand by the substance of my assertions and analysis. If anything the #climateemergency is even more pressing....but given the vacuum of principled political leadership, seemingly less likely to be addressed! I have also covered some of the … Continue reading Climate Change, Brexit and The Economy (…and Wales)
Swansea Bay Metro & City Deal
This is the transcript of the speech I gave at a Policy Form Wales, Swansea Bay City Deal Conference in April 2019 Thank you, Suzy. I spent about a week, preparing a brilliant presentation for you, really top quality, but it’s not working so you can’t see it! That’s just the way it goes, so … Continue reading Swansea Bay Metro & City Deal
Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region….
To note: This is really a brain dump article (so happy to take challenges) that will be subject to ongoing refinement as I learn more and better arrange my thoughts... It also follows up my presentation on Transit Oriented Development (TOD) for Wales Week in London at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2019. There … Continue reading Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region….
Mark Barry 