6.5.1 |Exploring

6.5.1 |Exploring Alternatives to NIFTI

NIFTI acknowledges this challenge and the example outcomes and Investment Priorities of NIFTI set out a clear ambition to direct future investments down a more sustainable path. This includes the desire to protect and renew existing transport networks to increase resilience, adapt to climate change, and establish a reliable and environmentally sustainable network.

A key part of the development of NIFTI has been to consider alternative frameworks that can still meet the challenges facing the transport sector and its ability to enable the NSOs. Three plan alternatives were considered, as summarised below.

The SFRA sets out a list of criteria against which future investments under NIFTI will be assessed. These criteria are designed to complement the existing Flood Risk Guidelines. They are aligned to the sequential approach and will ensure that the potential for significant adverse impacts on flood risk are avoided. The purpose of this is to ensure that a robust and comprehensive assessment of flood risk is undertaken and is at the forefront of future decision-making to facilitate sustainable development.

Alternative 1: No Plan – Do Nothing

In the absence of NIFTI, the 2015 Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport would remain the Department of Transport’s framework to guide and inform investment decision-making. SIFLT established three, ranked priorities:

ᴏ Achieve Steady State Maintenance

ᴏ Address Urban Congestion

ᴏ Maximise the Value of Existing Land Transport Networks