In late November the then Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, set out her vision for a more joined up and locally-led transport system across England. She outlined her vision for a new Integrated National Transport Strategy, the first in a quarter of a century – which will set out a ‘people first approach’ to getting people around the country. Recognising that different passengers have different needs, and the quality of transport varies across the country, it will set out how government can support local areas to make all forms of transport work together better.
The strategy will aim to provide clear vision for how transport across England can evolve over the next 10 years so that more places offer better, more seamless journeys door-to-door – like those facilitated by the successful Bee Network in Greater Manchester and Transport for London. The Bee Network brings together bus, metro and active travel under one name, meaning transport works together better for people.
The Transport Secretary was informed by a visit to Dijon, France, to see how a city roughly the size of York, or Chester, is running buses every five minutes in rush hour, the tram every three and has a dial-a-ride service to the outlying villages. Dijon has also created a single app that brings together every mode of transport – from bus to tram, car hire to bike hire, planning journeys to paying for parking.
Note: Dijon's system is similar to the network created by Freiburg Guildford’s Twin Town.
To support this the Transport Department is reforming its appraisal system for projects, to deliver good value for money as well as the right outcomes inn the form of employment , educational access and healthier communities – such as more jobs, improved access to education and healthier, via access to Active Travel, communities. The appraisal system will support the government growth agenda by giving weight to transport projects that enhance access to jobs, boost productivity, and help businesses grow.
The department has issued a call for ideas See Link.
Many of the ideas on integration were included in a report on Transport commissioned by the Labour Party in early 2023. See Article Below
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