Evaluation of Roads Reform: The changes made to the management and operation of England's strategic road network since 2014 - Wave 1 Report

This document describes a comprehensive evaluation of the Roads Reform program in England, aimed at improving the management of motorways and major roads. The evaluation, conducted by Ipsos MORI following ISO 20252:2012 standards, utilized interviews, surveys, and documentary evidence to assess the program's impact on investment, governance, and monitoring, as well as its long-term outcomes. Initial findings showed progress in planning and execution but identified areas needing improvement, such as development pace and user needs consideration. The roles of Highways England, the Department for Transport, the Office of Rail and Road, and Transport Focus were scrutinized. Although some positive developments were noted, the system's stability and operational changes are still being assessed. The effectiveness of the Roads Reform in delivering better value and improving the Strategic Road Network remains under evaluation, with further research planned to consider external influences. The evaluation also highlighted a shift towards customer-focused research within Highways England, challenges in project prioritization, and skepticism about the deliverability of ambitious plans. Despite a more stable funding environment and increased supplier confidence, concerns persist about cost-effectiveness, oversight, and the selection of capable suppliers. The evaluation concluded that while there have been improvements in transparency and strategic planning, further efforts are required to address inefficiencies and fully achieve the reform's objectives. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Department for Transport (DfT)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Impact evaluation; Process evaluation
• Impact methods: Theory-based methods
• Theory-based methods: Contribution analysis
• Process methods: Individual interviews; Surveys and polling
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: May 2018

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes