Urban Transport Group

We're delighted that Mayor Richard Parker will be in conversation with us in February next year. Join the Mayor to hear about his vision for transport across the West Midlands. Our Urban Transport Next podcast series is supported by AtkinsRéalis.

Today marks a step towards putting bus services back into the hands of local authorities and local people, as the Bus Services Bill is introduced to Parliament 👇 👇 👇 Urban Transport Group White Ribbon UK Reading Buses Campaign for Better Transport

🔊 Today is a pretty monumental day for me, with the laying of the Bus Services (No2) Bill in the UK House of Lords. Back in 2016, after a fantastic period working for Jonathan Reynolds MP, I started working for Transport for Greater Manchester and then subsequently the Greater Manchester Combined Authority . My primary focus was to help get new legislation in place that would allow the franchising of buses across Greater Manchester. Fast forward and we are weeks away from the whole of Greater Manchester's buses being under one franchised network. Alongside this achievement, we have a new buses bill, one that will build on the hugely important 2017 Act. It is important to remember that buses are the backbone of our public transport system. The introduction of this new bill, and its intention to hand more powers to local areas, will herald a smoother ride for the bus. It will help ensure the bus continues to play an active role in supporting and growing our local economies and connecting our communities. It also shows that across the political divide, buses matter. Two bills from two different political parties in eight years on one topic - the bus, is pretty extraordinary!! Obviously our work at the Urban Transport Group is not done until the bill becomes law and guidance is written. However, I have no doubt that with the continued commitment from the excellent bus team in the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, a transport and bus sector open to change, local leaders wanting to invest in integrated transport networks and a ministerial team ready to deliver, buses will have a bright future for years to come!

"As the end of the year approaches, let’s celebrate and champion the progress being made in some key policy areas of transport." Our Director Jason Prince writes about a year of transition for the transport sector, in his latest column for Passenger Transport magazine.

🔊 Great to be at the launch of the English Devolution White Paper in #Leeds today. #Devolution is already playing an important role in delivering #transport networks that are responsive to the needs of local communities, from locally controlled bus services to devolved rail services which deliver high passenger satisfaction. Today's White Paper further cements the value of #devolution, and sets out the approach to embedding it within the fabric of the country. With regards to #transport, there is much to welcome including: 🔴 Making the process for taking buses back into public control faster and simpler (courtesy of the anticipated buses bill) 🔴 #Mayors being given a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network 🔴 In addition to partnerships with Great British Railways, Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will have a clear right to request greater devolution of services, infrastructure and station control where it would support a more integrated network 🔴 #Mayors will take on powers to coordinate their road network, in partnership with constituent authorities and with less oversight from national government Link to paper here: https://lnkd.in/eZ5kUZzu 📸 And obviously, it was also necessary to get the obligatory selfie!

Transport emissions (in 2022) accounted for 28% of UK's total domestic emissions - up 2% on 2021. Cars and taxis accounted for 53% of transport emissions. Net zero cannot be achieved without urgent transport decarbonisation and shifting to public transport and active travel.

Today we held the second session of our third cohort of the Urban Transport Group Leadership Programme in Newcastle. The focus was on finding your Leadership style and the group heard from special guest speaker Catherine Massarella on her Leadership journey and values. Thank you also to Iain Smith (he / him) for excellent facilitation as always.

Local transport funding took a major step forward at the end of last month with BSIP funding being allocated by formula rather than competition. Our Technical Manager Thomas Ellerton looks at the movement away from short-term competitive pots, something we have long called for.

“We welcome the bold vision for an Integrated National Transport Strategy, which together with further devolution, will help to achieve a people-first approach to transport.” Read our full response 👇

Our climate targets guide us to achieve sustainable mobility. But why stop there? 🚀 The public transport sector can build a better world, from climate action to providing decent work, economic growth, and more. A guide to the measures that we can take already exists - they are the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. And the more that we integrate the SDGs into our processes, the better. In a survey, UITP engaged with nearly 50 members to gauge the progress of our sector. 🔗 Discover what public transport organisations are doing to link their activities with the SDGs. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ej3HVrTc