Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting public transport around the world – and the UK’s city region transport authorities are no exception. Find out how we are collectively responding to the crisis.
Our coronavirus briefings & reports
Director's blogs
 

This section of our website collects the various resources that we have been developing with our members in handling the coronavirus outbreak. Here, you will find our key briefings, press statements and regular blog posts from our Director Jonathan Bray. Further information and resources will be added as our response continues to evolve.

Resources

Back the Bus to Level Up

September, 2021

This report makes the case for bus revenue funding and reform of how it is provided. 

It aims to arrive at a realistic assessment of the revenue funding that will be needed to support the ambitious transformation in bus services envisaged by the National Bus Strategy. It also looks at how the way in which funding is provided could be reformed in order to offer better value for public money and enable it to be targeted in the most effective way locally.

The report:

  • Reviews the overall case for revenue support for bus.
  • Uses our Metropolitan Bus Model to test different revenue funding scenarios for their impact on service levels, fares and patronage.
  • Makes the case for reform of the way in which revenue support for buses is provided.
PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Funding

Building back better on urban transport

June, 2021

As the network of transport authorities serving the largest city regions in England, we worked together to keep the wheels of public transport turning during the lockdown so that key workers could get to where they needed to be.

In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet the challenge of ramping up public transport and prioritising cycling and walking to support a green and just recovery.

(Updated version June 2021)

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures

A new deal for urban transport: for the pandemic and beyond

February, 2021

This short paper shows how urban transport authorities have been keeping the wheels of public transport turning during the pandemic, working together to meet the challenges of COVID-19, whilst delivering better transport for a green and just recovery from it.

But transport authorities lack long-term, coherent and sufficient Government funding and key powers to provide the best service they can during the pandemic or in the longer term to transform and coordinate public transport.

Our case is set out in more detailed reports here including Building back better on urban transport.

Now is the time for a new deal on urban transport.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Funding

Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2020

September, 2020
This is our submission to HM Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review 2020. In our submission, we call upon the Government to move on from its current 'patch and mend’ approach to closing the COVID-19 funding gap for public transport towards longer-term, secure arrangements. We argue that this should form the basis for wider reforms of the funding and powers of city region transport authorities. In practice, this would mean providing long-term funding packages for local transport similar to those already in place for national rail and roads, as well as upgrading the powers of city region transport authorities so they are more in line with those in London. This would ensure that transport authorities are fully empowered and funded to meet the challenge of a green and just recovery from COVID-19.
Consulting body: 
HM Treasury
Document: 
PDF icon Urban Transport Group - Comprehensive Spending Review submission, Sep 2020 FINAL.pdf
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Smart Futures

The Covid-19 Funding Gap: The Case for Continuing Support for Urban Public Transport

September, 2020

This report, produced by transport consultancy Steer for the Urban Transport Group, warns that the future of local public transport services is at serious risk without continued COVID-19 financial support from Government.

It highlights how Government support allowed public transport to continue during the national lockdown (enabling key workers to travel to and from work) and to provide a more comprehensive service at lower socially distanced vehicle capacity following the end of the lockdown.

But the report paints a stark picture for both bus and light rail systems should this support be withdrawn prematurely.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Tram
Funding

Action stations: How devolution is transforming rail stations for the better

August, 2020

This report focuses on the benefits of the involvement of devolved authorities in rail stations.

It does so by looking at over 35 case studies of how and why devolved authorities have improved stations for the better in recent years – and the wide range of different kinds of benefits that this has brought for passengers and the places the railway serves. These benefits include helping to meet local housing need and sparking regeneration, turning run-down stations into gateways and places to be proud of, and improving the accessibility and environmental performance of station buildings.

The report goes further by looking at the potential to achieve even greater results through devolving more responsibilities for stations, such as delivering common branding with the rest of the local public transport network, through to ensuring plans and funding for stations is integrated with wider plans around housing, economic development and decarbonisation.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Regional and Urban Rail

Pages

The key COVID-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government

August, 2020
This overarching briefing sets out the key issues facing urban transport authorities in their response to the coronavirus crisis. It also sets out the four things we need from Government so that transport authorities can support a safe and achievable phased release from lockdown. Updated 18 August 2020.
Document: 
PDF icon Briefing - The key COVID-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government 180820 FINAL.pdf
Topic: 
Coronavirus

Back the Bus to Level Up

September, 2021

This report makes the case for bus revenue funding and reform of how it is provided. 

It aims to arrive at a realistic assessment of the revenue funding that will be needed to support the ambitious transformation in bus services envisaged by the National Bus Strategy. It also looks at how the way in which funding is provided could be reformed in order to offer better value for public money and enable it to be targeted in the most effective way locally.

The report:

  • Reviews the overall case for revenue support for bus.
  • Uses our Metropolitan Bus Model to test different revenue funding scenarios for their impact on service levels, fares and patronage.
  • Makes the case for reform of the way in which revenue support for buses is provided.
PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Funding

Building back better on urban transport

June, 2021

As the network of transport authorities serving the largest city regions in England, we worked together to keep the wheels of public transport turning during the lockdown so that key workers could get to where they needed to be.

In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet the challenge of ramping up public transport and prioritising cycling and walking to support a green and just recovery.

(Updated version June 2021)

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures

A new deal for urban transport: for the pandemic and beyond

February, 2021

This short paper shows how urban transport authorities have been keeping the wheels of public transport turning during the pandemic, working together to meet the challenges of COVID-19, whilst delivering better transport for a green and just recovery from it.

But transport authorities lack long-term, coherent and sufficient Government funding and key powers to provide the best service they can during the pandemic or in the longer term to transform and coordinate public transport.

Our case is set out in more detailed reports here including Building back better on urban transport.

Now is the time for a new deal on urban transport.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Funding

The Covid-19 Funding Gap: The Case for Continuing Support for Urban Public Transport

September, 2020

This report, produced by transport consultancy Steer for the Urban Transport Group, warns that the future of local public transport services is at serious risk without continued COVID-19 financial support from Government.

It highlights how Government support allowed public transport to continue during the national lockdown (enabling key workers to travel to and from work) and to provide a more comprehensive service at lower socially distanced vehicle capacity following the end of the lockdown.

But the report paints a stark picture for both bus and light rail systems should this support be withdrawn prematurely.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Tram
Funding

Action stations: How devolution is transforming rail stations for the better

August, 2020

This report focuses on the benefits of the involvement of devolved authorities in rail stations.

It does so by looking at over 35 case studies of how and why devolved authorities have improved stations for the better in recent years – and the wide range of different kinds of benefits that this has brought for passengers and the places the railway serves. These benefits include helping to meet local housing need and sparking regeneration, turning run-down stations into gateways and places to be proud of, and improving the accessibility and environmental performance of station buildings.

The report goes further by looking at the potential to achieve even greater results through devolving more responsibilities for stations, such as delivering common branding with the rest of the local public transport network, through to ensuring plans and funding for stations is integrated with wider plans around housing, economic development and decarbonisation.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Regional and Urban Rail

Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2020

September, 2020
This is our submission to HM Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review 2020. In our submission, we call upon the Government to move on from its current 'patch and mend’ approach to closing the COVID-19 funding gap for public transport towards longer-term, secure arrangements. We argue that this should form the basis for wider reforms of the funding and powers of city region transport authorities. In practice, this would mean providing long-term funding packages for local transport similar to those already in place for national rail and roads, as well as upgrading the powers of city region transport authorities so they are more in line with those in London. This would ensure that transport authorities are fully empowered and funded to meet the challenge of a green and just recovery from COVID-19.
Consulting body: 
HM Treasury
Document: 
PDF icon Urban Transport Group - Comprehensive Spending Review submission, Sep 2020 FINAL.pdf
Topic: 
Coronavirus
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Smart Futures

Pages

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