To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of traffic congestion on the environment. (275530)

The Department for Transport has commissioned research into assessing the cost of transport's impact on the natural landscape. The results of phases 1 and 2 of the study are reported on the Department's website at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/economics/rdg/landscape/

In addition the Highways Agency is developing a methodology to account for the changes to the quantity of vehicle emissions that affect air quality that can result from major roads schemes.

Also, the Department is collaborating with DEFRA to manage research that DEFRA has commissioned to investigate the health impacts of environmental noise. Although the remit of the study is not confined to transport, it is recognised that transport is a major source of noise exposure to those who live or work near roads.

Although not recent, from 1998 to 2004 the Department ran a research programme—TRAffic Management and Air Quality research (TRAMAQ)—looking at the impact of traffic management schemes on air quality. Details of this can be found on the Department's website at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/research/tmairqualityresearch/trafficmanagementandairquali3927

There is also recently commissioned related research that is looking at the impacts, including environmental ones, of smarter choices, cycling initiatives, and sustainable travel measures generally.