Improving quality of life is a general aim of national, regional and Tyne and Wear Local Transport Plan policy

Improved accessibility, regeneration and renewal will help achieve this. National policy is directed towards urban renaissance, sustaining rural areas, to economic and environmental sustainability and to sustainable development

An integrated local transport strategy is set out and implemented through the Local Transport Plan (LTP). In Tyne and Wear, the LTP is prepared through a joint partnership comprising the ITA Nexus (the Public Transport Executive) and each of the five constituent districts of Tyne and Wear

In order to contribute effectively to the aspirations set out in the LTP for improving the quality of life for people in Tyne and Wear the ITA has adopted the following overarching objectives through its Policy Statement for 2007/08 to 2009/10: -

• Actively promoting the use of better public transport as a real alternative to travelling by car and thereby contributing to reducing road traffic congestion;
• Reducing transport-related social exclusion;
• Protecting, preserving and enhancing the natural and built environments; and
• Assisting in stimulating economic regeneration.

These objectives support the broad social, economic and environmental objectives of our regional and LTP partners, and contribute directly to the shared LTP priorities  of: -

• Economic regeneration
• Sustainability
• Equity/social inclusion
• Enviromental protection
• Health and safety
• Economic efficiency