Coronavirus

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

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)

Download Full Report

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

Health and Wellbeing

The role of LRT during and after the pandemic

May, 2021

This factsheet sets out examples and statistics on the key role that light rail has played in getting key workers where they need to be during the pandemic and the essential role it will have in building back better afterwards.

Document:

The role of LRT during and after the pandemic

Topic:

COVID19 funding challenges on urban transport

May, 2021

Document:

Briefing - the key Covid-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government May 2021

Topic:

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.

Download Full Report

Topic:

Reforming Public Transport after the Pandemic

December, 2020

This is the Urban Transport Group's response to the Transport Select Committee's inquiry into the long-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic for UK public transport.

Consulting body:

Transport Select Committee

Document:

UTG response to TSC public transport reform after the pandemic.pdf

Topic:

Funding and delivering bus services during the pandemic and beyond

November, 2020

This document proposes a two stage approach to ensuring the most efficient use of public funding to provide the best possible bus service during the pandemic, whilst setting in place the foundations for reversing the decline in bus use that was taking place before the pandemic.

Document:

Bus funding reform for the pandemic and beyond November 2020.pdf

Topic:

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:

Urban Transport Group - Comprehensive Spending Review submission, Sep 2020 FINAL.pdf

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

Health and Wellbeing

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.

Download Full Report

Topic:

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.

Download Full Report

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

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:

Briefing - The key COVID-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government 180820 FINAL.pdf

Topic:

Pages

The role of LRT during and after the pandemic

May, 2021

This factsheet sets out examples and statistics on the key role that light rail has played in getting key workers where they need to be during the pandemic and the essential role it will have in building back better afterwards.

Document:

The role of LRT during and after the pandemic

Topic:

COVID19 funding challenges on urban transport

May, 2021

Document:

Briefing - the key Covid-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government May 2021

Topic:

Funding and delivering bus services during the pandemic and beyond

November, 2020

This document proposes a two stage approach to ensuring the most efficient use of public funding to provide the best possible bus service during the pandemic, whilst setting in place the foundations for reversing the decline in bus use that was taking place before the pandemic.

Document:

Bus funding reform for the pandemic and beyond November 2020.pdf

Topic:

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:

Briefing - The key COVID-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government 180820 FINAL.pdf

Topic:

The urgent need for sustainable bus funding arrangements for bus services in the Covid-19 recovery period

June, 2020

This briefing sets out the case for a more robust and cost effective format for bus funding for the recovery period. Updated 16th June 2020

Document:

Bus funding briefing v2 170620 FINAL.pdf

Topic:

Open letter to Baroness Vere on funding during Coronavirus pandemic

May, 2020

An open letter to Baroness Vere on funding for urban transport in the city regions during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Document:

Final letter to Baroness Vere on funding 20200515.pdf

Topic:

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)

Download Full Report

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

Health and Wellbeing

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.

Download Full Report

Topic:

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.

Download Full Report

Topic:

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.

Download Full Report

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

Consulting body

Reforming Public Transport after the Pandemic

December, 2020

This is the Urban Transport Group's response to the Transport Select Committee's inquiry into the long-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic for UK public transport.

Consulting body:

Transport Select Committee

Document:

UTG response to TSC public transport reform after the pandemic.pdf

Topic:

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:

Urban Transport Group - Comprehensive Spending Review submission, Sep 2020 FINAL.pdf

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

Health and Wellbeing

City regions make case for new deal for urban transport in run up to Budget

Thursday, February 25, 2021

City region transport authorities are making the case for a new deal on urban transport in the run up to next week’s Budget.

Topic:

Urban Transport Group launches new model to help predict bus use during and after COVID-19 pandemic

Monday, December 14, 2020

The Urban Transport Group has today launched the most sophisticated tool currently available for modelling bus use in city regions.

Topic:

City regions must be “at the heart” of Government’s Green Industrial Revolution

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

UTG launches ‘Urban Transport Next’ - a new series of lunchtime conversations on the future beyond COVID

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Urban Transport Group (UTG) has launched the first in a series of free online lunch-hour conversations to explore the future of urban transport as we begin to look beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and tackle the climate emergency.

Topic:

Report paints stark picture for future of bus and tram services without continued Government COVID-19 support

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Paper suggests “rapid and deep cut” in bus services if COVID-19 financial backing were to be withdrawn prematurely

Topic:

Empower urban transport authorities to build back better from COVID-19, urges report

Friday, September 18, 2020

Transport authorities can play their part in shaping a positive legacy of COVID-19 for the UK’s city regions, provided they are given both the funding and powers they need to respond to the challenges that lie ahead.

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

Rail stations investment key to building back better after COVID-19

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

New report shows essential role devolved authorities can play in station transformation

Topic:

Regional and Urban Rail

City regions respond to Government’s COVID-19 funding for urban public transport

Saturday, August 8, 2020

The Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities, has today responded to the Government’s package of financial support for urban public transport as it works to keep people moving through the COVID-19 crisis.

Topic:

Statement on the DfE Return to Schools Policy

Thursday, July 2, 2020

More funding support will be needed as part of collaborative approach to getting pupils safely to school.

Stephen Edwards, Chair of the Urban Transport Group, said:

Topic:

Open letter from transport authorities to Minister on urgent need for restart funding

Friday, May 15, 2020

City region transport authorities have sent an open letter to the Transport Minister Baroness Vere on the urgent need to cover the gap for the city regions outside London on COVID-19.

Topic:

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