Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh has today unveiled her vision for a more integrated and locally-led transport strategy across England.
Addressing Mayors and transport leaders at Leeds Civic Hall, the Transport Secretary outlined her plans for a new Integrated National Transport Strategy, which would be the first in a quart of a century and would put people first when it comes to transport. This comes with a recognition that different passengers have different needs, and that the quality of transport varies across the nation.
A clear vision will be presented through the strategy, setting out how English transport can evolve over the course of the next decade, with more seamless journeys being the goal. Transport for London in the capital, and the Bee Network in Greater Manchester were two successful examples that were referenced in relation to this.
For inspiration, the Transport Secretary has also looked at Dijon, France, following a visit earlier this year. With Dijon being a similar size to York or Chester, the visit allowed Haigh to see how such a city is able to run buses every five minutes in rush hour, with a bus every three minutes and a dial-a-ride service in outlying villages. An app has also been introduced in Dijon to bring together every mode of transport on offer in the city, including bus to tram and care hire to bike hire, alongside the ability to plan journeys and pay for parking.
Speaking at the event at Leeds Civic Hall, the Transport Secretary said:
“Integrated transport in this country is lagging behind our European counterparts, and for too long our fragmented transport networks have stunted economic growth and made it harder for people to get around.
“Today, I’m launching a new national vision of transport that seamlessly joins all modes of transport together, and puts people at the heart of our transport system.
“I want everyone to be able to contribute to this vision and have launched a call for ideas on how the strategy can best deliver greater opportunity, healthier communities and better lives.”
Alongside the vision for integrated transport, the Department for Transport will reform its appraisal system, with this ensuring that projects are delivering good value for money as well as the right outcomes. These outcomes include more jobs, improved education access, and healthier communities.
Reforms include giving sufficient weight to transport projects that will enhance employment access, boost productivity, and help with business growth – with a focus on less affluent areas.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin added:
“A better integrated public transport system is vital to growing our economy.
“In West Yorkshire, I have big plans for a world-leading mass transit system that will be fully integrated with railways and a publicly controlled bus network, helping people to access new jobs and opportunities across the region.
“The Secretary of State’s new Integrated National Transport Strategy will support me and other mayors to deliver on our ambition for better-connected and faster growing regions.”
In order to oversee the delivery of the new vision, the Department for Transport will recruit a new Integrated Transport Commissioner.
Image credit: iStock
