HITRANS Sets Out Key Transport Priorities Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election
The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) has published its key transport priorities for political parties to adopt ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. The proposals set out a bold and pragmatic vision for a more empowered, regionally responsive transport system that reflects the unique needs of rural and island communities.
Drawing on extensive partnership experience and the region’s wider economic and geographic challenges, HITRANS’ six core asks outline a clear path toward a fairer, more resilient and more locally accountable transport system.
Six Key Asks for 2026
- Devolve Transport Delivery Funds to Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) and Councils by 2027
HITRANS urges the next Scottish Government to build on the success of the People and Place Programme by devolving major transport funds directly to RTPs. This includes bus infrastructure, active travel, PSO support, ferry replacement, mobility innovation and behaviour-change programmes.
Devolving these funds will strengthen regional decision-making, support place-based solutions and align investment with local priorities.
- Guarantee Sustainable Revenue Support for Rural and Island Transport Services
HITRANS is calling for a ring-fenced, multi-year revenue funding stream to safeguard essential lifeline services across bus, rail, aviation, ferry and community transport.
Sustainable revenue support is essential to address service viability, tackle transport poverty, improve access to education and healthcare, and support community resilience.
- Reform Concessionary Fares to Deliver Fairness for Rural and Island Areas
The current concessionary fares scheme benefits urban areas disproportionately. HITRANS proposes a fairer approach that recognises geographic realities—extending concessionary access to local ferries and community transport, reviewing eligibility, and ensuring reimbursement rates remain sustainable for operators and local authorities.
- Expand RTP Powers for Integrated Delivery Across All Modes by 2028
To better align transport with planning, housing, health and economic development, HITRANS is seeking expanded powers for RTPs, including integrated planning across bus, aviation, rail and ferry services, and the ability to franchise bus networks where appropriate.
- Establish a Regional Transport Investment Fund
A new Regional Transport Investment Fund, administered by RTPs, would align investment with Regional Economic Strategies and spatial priorities.
This approach would enable long-term planning, support innovation and ensure infrastructure investment reflects the higher per-capita costs and unique geographic challenges of rural and island regions.
- Commit to Enhanced Regional Governance of Transport
HITRANS is calling for a shift toward Regional Transport Strategies becoming the primary framework for transport policy, investment and delivery.
Enhanced regional governance would ensure local priorities are central to decision-making and would reduce reliance on centralised processes such as the Strategic Transport Projects Review.
Need for Governance Reform and Stronger Community Representation
HITRANS also highlights the need for strengthened governance and improved engagement across the transport system. This includes more meaningful consultation for the Northern Isles Ferry Service and Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service contracts, with communities engaged early—including before vessel specifications are determined.
HITRANS further calls for stronger community representation on boards overseeing lifeline transport services and for a longer-term review of ferry governance, bundling, asset ownership and vessel funding.
Strategic Infrastructure Priorities
The document also outlines major infrastructure priorities required to support regional mobility and economic growth, including:
- Highland Mainline improvements
- Aberdeen–Inverness rail enhancements
- Dualling of the A9 and A96
- Upgrades to the A82, A85 and A83
- Climate resilience investment for lifeline infrastructure
- Grid and renewables investment to unlock the region’s energy transition potential
These asks complement the emerging Regional Transport Organisation (RTO) initiative, which aims to support transformational economic opportunities across the Highlands and Islands.
A Call to Action
Cllr Uisdean Robertson, Chair of HITRANS, said:
“Our region relies on lifeline transport in a way unmatched elsewhere in Scotland. These proposals represent a practical and achievable pathway to deliver better value, stronger local accountability, and improved outcomes for communities across the Highlands and Islands. We urge all political parties to support these priorities in their 2026 manifestos.”
The full HITRANS Key Asks document is available to download here