The Scottish Government’s Purpose is to ‘focus the Government and public sector services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth’. The Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) supports the Government’s Purpose by allowing the contribution that can be made by potential transport interventions to be presented in a clear, consistent manner.
The Government’s particular transport purpose is to focus investment on making connections across and with Scotland better, improving reliability and journey times, seeking to maximise the opportunities for employment, business, leisure and tourism. Additionally, to provide sustainable, integrated and cost effective public transport alternatives to private car, connecting people, places and work, across Scotland.
Transport is one of Scotland’s most vital public amenities, influencing amongst others, the economy, communities, environment, and quality of life. A transport system that serves Scotland well is fundamental to achieving the Scottish Government’s vision of a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable society.
STAG ensures that potential options to address evidenced based transport problems are identified and appraised in a consistent manner and that such options will contribute to the Scottish Government’ Purpose and meet the transport needs of Scotland .
It is a requirement that an appraisal using STAG is undertaken by commissioning authorities and their agents when seeking Government funding, support or approval for proposals to significantly change the transport system.
The completion of a study, as documented in a STAG Report, allows the rationale behind a potential transport options to be presented in a clear, evidence-led manner and provides the information required by a decision maker to make an informed choice of the most appropriate options for design development.
