Local Transport Strategy

The Highland Council is developing a new Local Transport Strategy (LTS) for the next 10 years from 2025 to 2035. The LTS will play a key role in setting out the future direction and policy focus for transport in the Highlands.

Our vision is that communities, businesses and visitors in Highland will be served by a low carbon transport system that is sustainable, inclusive, safe, resilient and accessible.

Objectives

Our objectives are to:

• invest in the safety, maintenance and resilience of the transport system to support the future prosperity of communities and businesses
• improve public or shared transport options that meet different user needs
• improve walking, wheeling and cycling choices for everyone to encourage active and healthy journeys
• reduce emissions from the transport system

The LTS sits in the context of broader local policies including planning, economic development, environmental, and health initiatives, as well as Scottish national and regional strategies. It will play a crucial role in enhancing those other local policy areas while contributing to the vision and ambitions outlined in the National Transport Strategy and the HITRANS Regional Transport Strategy. This ensures a joined up approach to achieving sustainable and impactful outcomes. 

At this stage the stage the LTS will not include details of local projects. These details will be in an LTS Delivery Plan which the Council will progress in 2025. The focus at this point is on the themes and policies for the LTS which will guide the actions in that Delivery Plan.

Current development

A LTS Case for Change was completed by The Highland Council in 2023. This presented an analysis of the problems and opportunities affecting the transport system in the Highlands and feedback was sought from stakeholders and the public at the time.

Under each LTS objective are themes to help identify and frame the policies of the strategy. The themes also help to ensure the coverage of the strategy is sufficient, recognising the varied geography of the region ranging from an urban city environment to rural and remote rural areas.

The related policies will guide the actions which will be set out in next year’s Delivery Plan.

Contributing to the LTS

With the transport system used by everyone living in and visiting Highland, input from stakeholders and the public is important to the development of the new LTS and the Council wants to hear your views.

Read the Highland Local Transport Strategy 2025 to 2035 Draft and give your feedback.

The engagement runs till Tuesday 3 December.