The pathway to a brighter transport future is a series of reports by the Urban Transport Group.

We first began to map out the series in an opening scene setter to coincide with the 2024 Autumn Party Conference season.

The first full report, The pathway to a brighter transport future: The fiscal imperative (October 2024), set out the immediate funding priorities for the 2024 Autumn Budget, as a financial bridge to the Spending Review in 2025. These would safeguard provision and enable our city regions to continue to play their full part in delivering growth.

The Autumn Budget did indeed provide that much needed bridge to keep the wheels turning. Despite huge economic pressures, the Budget confirmed £1bn of bus funding; £200m for transformational transport projects; and £485m for transport renewals in London. There were also boosts for road maintenance, active travel infrastructure and local transport across the country. In tough times, the Government’s actions were appreciated and were a welcome recognition of the vital contribution of local transport.

The second, The pathway to a brighter transport future: delivering growth through transport devolution (February 2025), looked at the devolved powers that need to sit alongside funding to go further and faster to unlock economic growth across the country, maximising the value of every penny of investment. Transport devolution is already changing our city regions for the better and our members are ready to fully realise its potential

The third piece in the series, The pathway to a brighter transport future: Harnessing the opportunity of our local railways (March 2025), took a deep dive into the opportunities for a new statutory role for Mayors and authorities as part of the Government’s plans for rail reform. It made the case that, with the right powers and funding coming together, our railway can serve not only as the backbone that connects and grows the UK’s economy, but also maximise synergies with the local ambitions of the people and places it serves. We very much welcome the Government’s commitment to rail reform with local decision-making at its heart.

The final report, The pathway to a brighter transport future: Invest and grow (May 2025), published ahead of the Spending Review, called on Government to provide long-term funding certainty and stability for local transport, addressing the long-term capital and revenue needs of UTG's members to enable them to continue their vital work of driving economic growth in their regions.

Together, these reports have helped to influence government thinking and policy across a range of modes, and ultimately, how local transport is controlled and funded.

Click on the links below to read the reports in full