No transport, no growth – Mayor Andy Burnham in conversation with Urban Transport Group
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is one of the most recognisable voices in today’s politics, known for his passionate advocacy for Manchester, the North and for better transport. He was certainly in his element during a conversation with Laura Laker, the freelance journalist who put the questions to the Mayor earlier this week as part of our Urban Transport Next conversations series.
Whilst the Mayor covered everything from his vision for an integrated transport network across Greater Manchester to his desire to get Liam Gallagher to lend his voice to ‘next stop’ announcements on transport in the city, his overarching message was for long term investment and integration.
Andy joined us on a significant week for Greater Manchester’s transport network, with a new fare structure for the region on the cusp of being launched (which he trailed during the conversation). This is the latest step in GM’s journey towards an integrated London-style transport network. The Bee Network, which will see its first franchised yellow buses enter service in September, is the fruit of years of work by Transport for Greater Manchester and the Mayor, who recently secured a trailblazer devolution deal with central Government. The devolution deal is key to achieving the Bee Network ambition to join together buses, trams, rail and walking and cycling to create a comprehensive network that mirrors that of London.
Central to the Mayor’s work and approach is his belief that transport must be place-focused and fully integrated to achieve tangible improvements for communities. He is no stranger to policy of course, having served in elected politics since 2001 and as the Mayor of Greater Manchester since May 2017. However, it also turns out that Mayor Burnham began his career in transport – having worked as a writer for the Passenger Rail Management magazine in the 1990s.
He admits taking inspiration from the Dutch approach to transport and place making, where the focus is on a multi modal integrated approach to transport planning to regenerate and create strong communities. It is his aim now to lead such an approach in the UK with the Bee Network.
During the interview, the Mayor was also asked about the approach being taken in Greater Manchester to improve air quality, after the region abandoned plans for a charging Clean Air Zone earlier in 2022. This continues to be an active debate across the region and the country, as elected decision makers are seeking to take the impact of the pandemic and cost of living crisis into account in the roll out of air quality policies. The Mayor was clear that he doesn’t believe that ‘sticks’ (i.e. CAZ charges) ought to be used to achieve net zero goals, as it would fail to win the hearts and minds of the public. Instead, he believes that good quality, affordable and reliable public transport is the way forward.
This question, as well as the issue of long-term sustainable investment needed to strengthen the local transport offer across the UK, will be central in the upcoming General Elections. With all parties touting the growth mantra, Mayor Burnham concluded that a functioning transport system is the prerequisite for a growing economy – a connection that, according to the Mayor, the Treasury is yet to fully realise.
His key asks of all parties and the next government are a commitment to revenue support for transport outside of London to make fares more affordable; bus franchising powers extended to all areas, including non-Mayoral Combined Authorities; commitment to public rail ownership and devolved rail powers; as well as rail infrastructure investment and commitment to HS2.
Acknowledging that these asks will not be an easy task for any party, Mayor Burnham concluded the discussion by saying that UTG must continue to play a key role in advocating for sustainable, integrated, place-based transport policy solutions. Rest assured that, whatever the outcome of the General Election, we will continue to do just that!
Monta Drozdova is Policy and Research Advisor at the Urban Transport Group
The Urban Transport Group will be holding fringe events at the Conservative and Labour Party Conferences, and a (invite-only) breakfast meeting at the Liberal Democrats Conference. Click here for further details.
Listen or watch Urban Transport Next: Bee Here Now, a special conversation with Andy Burnham (and journalist Laura Laker) below.