Alternatives to car travel will be promoted to cut congestion

They include a new rail link between the north and south and improvements to the A470 which links the regions.

�350m is to be spent on trunk roads - north-south as well as improvements and "pinch-points" on the M4 and A55.

A number of towns are also to become "models" for integrated travel to improve public transport across Wales.

Transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said these Sustainable Travel Towns would have "greatly enhanced opportunities for walking and cycling, improved public transport and better travel planning".

In his statement to Assembly Members he also announced plans for an enhanced TrawsCambria long-distance coach service including new routes.

TRANSPORT PLANS Improved walking, cycling and public transport in 'model towns' Investigate faster rail link between north and south Wales Substantial improvements on the A470 Improve the capacity of east-west corridors Tackle traffic congestion and reduce the environmental impact of personal travel

"We want to create a transport network fit for this century coupled with a strategy that addresses the environmental and global challenges of the next," he said

Conservative transport spokesman Andrew Davies accused the minister of "dipping into" the Tory election manifesto for his ideas on model towns.

"The minister has said he's going to invest �350 million over the next four years," he added.

"That figure sounds impressive on first hearing, but in reality it's just over �87 million a year. That won't go far."

And Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams said media headlines predicting a new transport plan had given her high expectations but that Mr Jones had said "very little at all".

Other European economies are moving people far faster Stuart Cole, professor of transport at the Wales Transport Research Centre

"Your statement is full of 'details in due course', 'assessment of scopes', more feasibility studies, upon the numerous feasibility studies the previous minister carried out, and details to be announced next year."

Stuart Cole, professor of transport at the Wales Transport Research Centre, said current driving times between north and south Wales as "unacceptable".

"Other European economies are moving people far faster," he said.

"Between north and south Wales, an average over 130 miles of five hours driving time is around 25mph. But people in France are being moved at 200mph by train."

Local economies

But he said that making the A470 would not only be expensive but it could also damage some of Wales' most beautiful regions.

Chris Mason, a director of Newport-based hauliers RJ Mason said it avoided routes to mid and north Wales because of the connections.

But he said, better transport links would kick start local economies.

"When they opened the Heads of the Valleys road you found more and more businesses were prepared to move into the area and expand," he said.