Despite MSPs voting at the end of the second parliamentary session to remove tolls from the Forth Road Bridge, the Toll Impact Study, which was commissioned by the previous Executive to examine the effects of removing tolls from the Forth and Tay bridges, advises against the move. 

Instead the report’s authors say that it could lead to significant extra traffic movement, increased traveling time with associated costs and adverse environmental impacts.

The recommendations come as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney today launched a series of public exhibitions about a Forth replacement crossing. 

Commenting on the “vital” need to gather public opinion on the issue Swinney said: "The Forth replacement crossing will be one of the biggest infrastructure investments ever seen in this country. It is vital to Scotland's future, and with such an important decision I am very keen to hear people's views on the proposals.” 

However, in light of statistics published today which show that road traffic levels are at the highest ever recorded in Scotland, he said that the Scottish government will also be looking for the public’s help to reduce congestion. 

He continued: “… if we are to keep Scotland moving in years to come, and achieve our aim of improving economic growth, it is clear that we need the public to help us on more than just the decision on the type of crossing. 

"Today's reports show that we face growing traffic levels on our roads. 

"The Scottish government will continue to do its bit  - we will continue to invest in infrastructure that tackles congestion, improves connectivity and reduces journey times, and we will continue to encourage people out of their cars.” 

Key to this, he said, would be giving people the choice of “excellent” public transport.  “We will build new rail lines, invest in strategic road links and improve the bus network. We also need more people across the country to make the choice to leave the car at home.” 

He added: "We must encourage change in the mode of transport used by the public to protect our environment and ensure our economy can develop without being constricted by an increasingly congested roads network."

However, Patrick Harvie MSP, Green Speaker on Transport, today said that Ministers’ plans to invest in bigger roads to tackle congestion were “ridiculous”.

He said: "It is plainly ridiculous for Ministers to claim that by investing in bigger roads, Scotland's congestion problems will be eased. It has been accepted since the 1970s that building more roads simply encourages more traffic. It's frankly bizarre for the Minister to appeal to people to leave the car at home whilst at the same time investing in bigger roads which attract people into their cars. The Minister appears to have his head in the sand. Congestion causes economic damage as well as environmental problems, and pursuing policies which make it worse is simply absurd.

"The previous Lib Dem/Labour Executive has left its legacy of increased traffic levels and the new administration appears hell bent on continuing the same unsustainable path. The government should accept the need for change, and give people alternative choices to the car instead of simply building capacity for more road traffic. Ministers appear unwilling to take the rational transport choices."

For further information on the exhibitions visit: www.forthreplacementcrossing.info. 

The Toll Impact Study is published today at www.scotland.gov.uk

For more information on the Statistical Bulletin Main Transport Trends see here.