The acknowledged need for a long-term plan for land transport has unleashed a cascade of consultancy studies over the past year. The MoC called upon the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, a government think tank, which in turn commissioned the UK-based SQW China to do a year-long study. The consultant will work alongside design and engineering firm Atkins to draft recommendations for the master plan, including traffic forecasts, key programmes and cost estimates. The study and results of public opinion surveys and discussion forums, will inform the final plan, which will be released in mid-2013.