MACS work plan 2025-26

Work Plan: April 2025 to end of March 2026

The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) is an advisory non-departmental public body. Within the founding legislation, Scottish Ministers have defined the overall aim for MACS as follows:

MACS will consider such matters relating to the needs of disabled persons in connection with transport as the Committee think appropriate and give advice to Scottish Ministers”.

MACS Vision

"MACS believes in a Scotland without the barriers that isolate and exclude disabled people from making their choice of successful door to door journeys”

In achieving our vision, the Convener aims to ensure, that MACS’ policies and actions support the wider strategic policies of Scottish Ministers. This is supported by the Framework Document between MACS and Transport Scotland (TS), our Sponsors.

MACS Strategic Remit is:

  • To give Scottish Ministers advice on aspects of policy, legislation and practice affecting the travel needs of disabled people.
  • To take account of the broad views and lived experiences of disabled people when giving advice.
  • To encourage awareness amongst disabled people in Scotland of developments which affects their mobility, choices and opportunities.
  • To work closely with SG and ensure our work programme complements the work being undertaken by the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Committee (IMTAC), the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), the Scottish Human Rights Commission, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and other organisations, voluntary and statutory.
  • To promote the travel needs of disabled people with designers including transport planners and operators so that these are fully taken into account in the development of vehicles and infrastructure and delivery of services.
  • To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our work against the above aims and objectives in improving travel opportunities for disabled people in Scotland.

MACS Objectives

This work plan sets out an overview of the work that the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland plans to do from April 2025 – end March 2026 in pursuit of its five high level objectives:

  • Objective One: To build on the commitment in Programme for Government (PfG) to promote a fair, accessible and inclusive Scotland.
  • Objective Two: To work across Cabinet and Ministerial portfolios to ensure the need for an accessible transport system is recognised and cited as an enabler.
  • Objective Three: To ensure that the Scottish Government makes it clear that public bodies and local authorities have a duty to respect the legislation regulating improvements of the accessibility of public transport service provision and the surrounding infrastructures.
  • Objective Four: To advocate for engagement with MACS when developing or revising policy, plans or contracts by officials to gain expert advice and ensure accessibility is given a priority consideration. This includes using procurement and franchise opportunities when awarding contracts to promote accessibility in transport provisions.
  • Objective Five: To advocate for an effective and inclusive “just transition” in our review of the National Transport Strategy, the Accessible Travel Framework and supporting strategic plans and route maps. Our reviews will acknowledge progress, identify barriers and gaps and make recommendations to assist with the delivery of these commitments as we make transport more accessible and sustainable.

MACS Objectives have been derived from our overarching Strategic Plan.

How MACS will deliver

To deliver on our strategic remit and progress our objectives, we will continue to operate the existing five MACS workstreams. This is further supported by MACS members as ‘Champions’ for specific topics that emerge and where we anticipate Transport Scotland or the wider Scottish Government will require advice or support in the year ahead.

When progressing our objectives, we will ensure alignment with the National Transport Strategy the priorities of the First Minister, linking our work and engagements to support the wider Ministerial objectives, coupled with the transport elements of the Programme for Government.

Workstreams and Leads for 2025 – 2026

  • Rail (Lead: Simon Watkins)
  • Ferries and Aviation (Lead: Anne Macleod)
  • Active Travel and Infrastructure (Lead: Susan Fulton)
  • Public and Community Transport (Lead: Lesley Macinnes)
  • Planning, Strategy and Engagement (Lead: Lynn Pilkington)

Each Workstream will progress a number of activities and engagements set out in the next section, whilst retaining the flexibility to react to emerging opportunities. These activities, overseen by Workstream Leads, will be matched against the above high-level objectives and the Leads will report on progress via quarterly workstream reports.

Workstream Leads will also meet regularly as a group, including individual Committee members where required.

The following sections set out the priorities for each of the MACS workstreams.

Workstream Priorities

Rail

  • Support the replacement and modernisation of the rolling stock in Scotland by providing advice and information to Transport Scotland during the procurement process.
  • Support initiatives under the Access for All funding programme to improve station accessibility.
  • Continue to monitor developments in Passenger Assist, which allows rail passengers to request assisted travel, mobility help and accessible facilities in advance so that everyone can travel with confidence.
  • Continue the established engagement with ScotRail on accessibility improvements.
  • Advocate for a statutory consultative role in the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) on rail services that impact Scotland, similar to the role of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) within the draft legislation.
  • Continue to engage in the consultation process of the options for the Clyde Metro.

Ferries and Aviation

  • Work with Transport Scotland on the development of a national standard for ferries accessibility.
  • Engage further to progress the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) and the Rural Delivery Plan to improve ferry service reliability and addressing accessibility issues for island residents.
  • Advocate for the reopening of the Ferries Accessibility Fund.
  • Monitor and provide guidance on the ferries fleet expansion, including the six major vessels and the procurement of seven electric ferries.
  • Contribute to the review of ferry fares structure to improve affordability and accessibility and advocate for the introduction of free ferry travel for holders of National Entitlement Card (NEC) for concessionary travel, including free companion travel (NEC+1).
  • Continue to provide input in identifying a sustainable and long-term resolution to the issues of the Benbecula to Stornoway flights, engaging with key stakeholders including the NHS Board, local authority, and Scottish Government Health officials and Ministers.

Active Travel and Infrastructure

  • Through engagement, research and advocacy with Transport Scotland on the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, promote walking, wheeling, and cycling while addressing barriers to disabled people, including first and last mile, accessibility of stopping places, encourage segregated routes, and improve signage.
  • Support the completion and promotion of the Transport Scotland document on Inclusive Design in Town Centres and Busy Streets.
  • Engage with the Scottish Government around inclusive placemaking themes to encourage a collaborative process that involves communities in the design, associated guidance, and development of public spaces. To continue to advocate for the involvement of disabled people in the associated impact assessments through a “people first” approach that creates places that all people can access, want to be in, and that improves the quality of life for those who use them.
  • Collaborate with the Scottish Road Works Commissioner to identify barriers relating to temporary road works and how these can be overcome.
  • Monitor the rollout and best practice in the new Pavement Parking Prohibition regulations.
  • Continue to monitor developments and progress in the rollout of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging to ensure accessibility and inclusion.

Public and Community Transport

  • Engage and provide guidance to Traveline on further accessibility upgrades to the website and app.
  • Provide input to the Bus Services Improvement Plan and delivery framework.
  • Work with Transport Scotland on supporting taxi accessibility, including reviewing taxi use survey data.
  • Work with Transport Scotland to ensure that concessionary travel schemes continue to be available to all eligible disabled travellers and that work continues to refine schemes to be as accessible as possible.
  • Continue to examine bus accessibility issues, including infrastructure such as dropped kerbs and to provide advice on how to pursue progress.
  • We will look for specific initiatives to engage with Transport Scotland to provide advice under Demand Responsive Transport and Mobility as a Service.

Planning, Strategy and Engagement

  • Advance the Communication and Engagement Strategy to strengthen MACS’ outreach efforts with disabled people and Disabled People’s Organisations.
  • Improve engagement and build meaningful relationships with Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) to align with MACS’ legislative remit.
  • Endeavour to lead by example in accessibility of stakeholder meetings and events by ensuring reasonable adjustments are made, resulting in meaningful consultation and engagement that everyone can take part in.
  • Support the work of the other workstreams to develop an evidence base for accessibility improvements through collaboration with TS Accessible Travel team by sharing knowledge and best practice to inform the monitoring and evaluation of the Accessible Travel Framework.

Additionally, the Committee will continue to progress multi-modal projects through collaboration.

Closing the Mobility Gap

We will continue to engage and provide advice to inform delivery of the National Transport Strategy (NTS). MACS will be represented at the Transport Scotland, Transport Equalities Group and the Delivery board of the Accessible Travel Framework (ATF) and its successor.

Ensuring a Just Transition

MACS recognises that disabled people are disproportionately impacted by climate change. We will engage with Scottish Government officials and the Just Transition Commission to ensure the transport needs of disabled people are mainstreamed in policy decisions.

Transport to Health and Social Care

We will monitor the progress of the National Transport to Healthcare Delivery Plan through bi-annual meetings with the SG Primary Care Team and the delivery of the 20 commitments from the plan.

Motability and AVES

With a focus on Value for Money from Motability Operations and the SG Accessible Vehicle and Equipment Scheme (AVES) we will continue to engage with Social Security Scotland and Motability Operations and the Motability Foundation. MACS would welcome new providers in Scotland, our aim is to also advocate for the creation of a Scottish Motability User Group.

Scottish Human Rights Bill

We will progress this area through engagement in the planning of and development of a Human Rights Bill.

Accessible Travel Framework

Collaborate with Transport Scotland on the successor to the Accessible Travel Framework.