Future of transport regulatory review: zero emission vehicles
November, 2021
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Sustainability
Resources
Leading Light: What Light Rail can do for City Regions
October, 2021
This report, produced by Steer for the Urban Transport Group, shows how Britain’s light rail systems have supported economic growth in the areas that they serve, promoted social inclusion and led to environmental gain, including a reduction in carbon emissions.
It argues there is a need to maintain the connectivity provided by light rail as the economies of the towns and cities that light rail serves recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It says investment in maintenance and renewal will continue and potentially enhance the benefits that light rail brings and that a stable Government policy and funding environment will help promoters come forward with light rail proposals that will bring further economic, societal and environmental benefits.
Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2021
September, 2021
This is our submission to HM Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review 2021. In our submission, we warn Government that wider objectives for carbon reduction and levelling up (as well as the specific objectives of the national active travel and bus strategies) cannot be met without increased spending on local transport. Indeed, without additional funding bus patronage (and bus network size) are likely to remain at levels well below what they were pre-pandemic (when patronage and network size were already at an all-time low).
To fully realise the benefits of enhanced, devolved and longer term funding for local transport we need city region transport authorities which are fully empowered to take decisions across the modes in a way which reflects local circumstances and aspirations.
Consulting body:
HM Treasury
Document:
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)
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
Transport Decarbonisation Plan
August, 2020
This is our response to the Government's Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which requested ideas about the next steps to reducing emissions in transport and creating a plan to ensure the UK meets its net zero emissions by 2050 target.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Climate emergency declarations - briefing note
December, 2019
This document provides a summary of which authorities have declared a climate emergency and what targets they are committing to. It does not cover all authorities but focuses primarily in those in the city regions, with some additional key urban areas included for interest. This document represents a snapshot in December 2019, as authorities are continuing to declare climate emergencies and set targets.
Document:
Topic:
Making the connections on climate: How city regions can join the dots between transport, energy and the built environment
November, 2019
This report draws together practical examples of the links that can be made on climate at the city region level between transport and energy, and between transport and the decarbonisation and adaptation of the built environment.
In doing so, the report also suggests practical interventions that can be made on a host of different types of projects as well as profiling how a city can make these connections in an increasingly systematic way - using Nottingham and Munich as case studies.
You can listen to a podcast of a public lecture held at LSE Cities in London, where the report was launched.
Topic:
What next for urban transport?
September, 2019
This report - published to coincide with the 2019 Autumn Party Conferences - identifies four urban transport challenges and four solutions needed to overcome them.
It also details what transport authorities need from Government to bring about these changes.
On launching the report, Stephen Edwards, Chair of the Urban Transport Group and Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said: "There is much more that needs to be done if transport is to contribute effectively to meeting the many challenges that city regions face, from the climate crisis to public health challenges associated with a lack of physical activity. The right policies can help overcome these challenges."
Air quality
July, 2019
Working to improve air quality is a key challenge and priority across our members. Here are our five operational asks of Government which would help us to achieve this aim.
Pages
Climate emergency declarations - briefing note
December, 2019
This document provides a summary of which authorities have declared a climate emergency and what targets they are committing to. It does not cover all authorities but focuses primarily in those in the city regions, with some additional key urban areas included for interest. This document represents a snapshot in December 2019, as authorities are continuing to declare climate emergencies and set targets.
Document:
Topic:
Air quality
July, 2019
Working to improve air quality is a key challenge and priority across our members. Here are our five operational asks of Government which would help us to achieve this aim.
Policy Futures - Air quality
September, 2014
This Policy Futures paper sets out the policy changes needed to better tackle the air quality problems caused by transport in the city regions.
Topic:
Leading Light: What Light Rail can do for City Regions
October, 2021
This report, produced by Steer for the Urban Transport Group, shows how Britain’s light rail systems have supported economic growth in the areas that they serve, promoted social inclusion and led to environmental gain, including a reduction in carbon emissions.
It argues there is a need to maintain the connectivity provided by light rail as the economies of the towns and cities that light rail serves recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It says investment in maintenance and renewal will continue and potentially enhance the benefits that light rail brings and that a stable Government policy and funding environment will help promoters come forward with light rail proposals that will bring further economic, societal and environmental benefits.
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)
Making the connections on climate: How city regions can join the dots between transport, energy and the built environment
November, 2019
This report draws together practical examples of the links that can be made on climate at the city region level between transport and energy, and between transport and the decarbonisation and adaptation of the built environment.
In doing so, the report also suggests practical interventions that can be made on a host of different types of projects as well as profiling how a city can make these connections in an increasingly systematic way - using Nottingham and Munich as case studies.
You can listen to a podcast of a public lecture held at LSE Cities in London, where the report was launched.
Topic:
What next for urban transport?
September, 2019
This report - published to coincide with the 2019 Autumn Party Conferences - identifies four urban transport challenges and four solutions needed to overcome them.
It also details what transport authorities need from Government to bring about these changes.
On launching the report, Stephen Edwards, Chair of the Urban Transport Group and Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said: "There is much more that needs to be done if transport is to contribute effectively to meeting the many challenges that city regions face, from the climate crisis to public health challenges associated with a lack of physical activity. The right policies can help overcome these challenges."
The cross-sector benefits of backing the bus
March, 2019
This report highlights how investing in bus services is key to achieving a wide range of policy objectives across Government.
The report also finds that the way in which bus services are funded is mired in complexity, with no oversight within Whitehall of how the various funding streams from different Government departments impact on bus services overall.
It also shows that all the main forms of funding for bus services are under severe pressure – in particular those that come indirectly from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government which support bus services that bus companies will not provide on a commercial basis. The report calls for a new ‘Connectivity Fund’ – which would bring together existing bus funding together with funding from other Government Departments into a significantly enhanced and ring-fenced pot for local government to support bus services.
The place to be: How transit oriented development can support good growth in the city regions
January, 2019
This report examines ‘transit oriented development’ - the principle of putting public transport front and centre in new residential and commercial developments, with the aim of maximising access by public transport, encouraging walking and cycling, and minimising the need to own and use private cars.
The report suggests that transit oriented development has the potential to meet housing need without undermining the green belt or creating more traffic congestion and sprawl. It also examines other areas where it can deliver wide-ranging benefits, such as to local economies; air quality and carbon emissions; social inclusion, employment and skills; health; and public transport patronage.
The place to be sets out a five point plan on how to realise more building developments which are based around sustainable, public transport and active travel.
About towns: How transport can help towns thrive
November, 2018
This report examines the key role that transport interventions can play in supporting post-industrial towns.
It features case studies from the UK and the wider world of how different types of interventions - from transport’s role as an ‘anchor institution’ for local economies and as an employer, through to how transport interchanges can act as ‘gateways’ and sources of civic pride and renewal - can achieve results.
A key finding of the report is that isolated capital interventions in transport infrastructure are insufficient in themselves. Instead, more co-ordinated programmes of transport capital and revenue investment and support are needed if towns are to truly thrive.
Policy futures for urban transport
September, 2018
The latest edition of Policy futures for urban transport emphasises how a new deal on funding and powers is essential to keep the UK's cities moving forward.
The report sets out the 10 key policy changes that are needed to make cities healthier, fairer and more prosperous.
These include further devolution of rail services; greater funding for buses; reform of taxi and Private Hire Vehicle legislation; an ambitious strategy to encourage more cycling and walking; a long term investment plan for urban rail services; and a visionary national policy framework on air quality.
Policy Futures
September, 2017
Policy futures for urban transport sets out how, with more focused governance in place, the city regions are delivering major investment programmes including on public transport, highways and active travel, and smart ticketing. The report says that - with the right national policy framework - further and faster progress can be made, including:
- ensuring that the benefits of transformative technological change are maximised including new ways of paying for access to transport, connected and autonomous vehicles and data;
- that barriers between different sectors are broken down so that the benefits that transport can bring to achieving wider policy goals - in areas like health, employment and education - are fully realised.
Policy Futures for Urban Transport - our vision and roadmap
September, 2016
This report sets out our vision for how future UK urban transport policy could unfold in a way that enables the nation’s urban areas to deliver smart and sustainable growth that has far-reaching benefits. It looks at the great strides our city regions have already made and proposes fifteen ways in which national government and transport authorities can work together to create the transport networks urban areas need in order to fully realise their potential.
Pages
Future of transport regulatory review: zero emission vehicles
November, 2021
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2021
September, 2021
This is our submission to HM Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review 2021. In our submission, we warn Government that wider objectives for carbon reduction and levelling up (as well as the specific objectives of the national active travel and bus strategies) cannot be met without increased spending on local transport. Indeed, without additional funding bus patronage (and bus network size) are likely to remain at levels well below what they were pre-pandemic (when patronage and network size were already at an all-time low).
To fully realise the benefits of enhanced, devolved and longer term funding for local transport we need city region transport authorities which are fully empowered to take decisions across the modes in a way which reflects local circumstances and aspirations.
Consulting body:
HM Treasury
Document:
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
Transport Decarbonisation Plan
August, 2020
This is our response to the Government's Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which requested ideas about the next steps to reducing emissions in transport and creating a plan to ensure the UK meets its net zero emissions by 2050 target.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Air quality: Additional measures to support individuals and businesses affected by local NO2 plans
January, 2018
Consulting body:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Improving Air Quality
November, 2017
Consulting body:
Transport Select Committee
Document:
Improving air quality: reducing nitrogen dioxide in our towns and cities
June, 2017
UTG response to DEFRA and Department for Transport's consultation on air quality.
Consulting body:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Document:
Cycling Delivery Plan
November, 2014
pteg response to the Department for Transport's informal consultation on the draft Cycling Delivery Plan which sets out the Government’s 10 year strategy for increasing cycling and walking across England.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Document:
National road and rail networks: draft national policy statement
February, 2014
Response to consultation on the overall policy against which the Secretary of State for Transport will make decisions on applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects on the national road and rail networks.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Government measures to support uptake of ultra low emission vehicles from 2015-2020
January, 2014
Response to an Office for Low Emission Vehicles call for evidence to inform priorities for a £500 million package to support uptake of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs).
Consulting body:
Office for Low Emission Vehicles
Topic:
Pages
Protect and expand Britain’s light rail systems to aid city regions’ recovery from COVID pandemic, urges report
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Britain’s light rail systems are instrumental in supporting economic growth, promoting social inclusion and achieving environmental gains (including a reduction in carbon emissions) in the urban areas that they serve.
Government will miss carbon reduction objectives and levelling up goals without more local transport spending, warn city regions
Thursday, September 23, 2021
The Government will fail to meet its objectives around carbon reduction and levelling up unless it increases spending on local transport as part of the Spending Review.
City regions must be “at the heart” of Government’s Green Industrial Revolution
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
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.
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.
Urban Transport Group responds to NHS campaign to tackle climate change
Monday, January 27, 2020
The Urban Transport Group has welcomed the launch of the NHS’ campaign ‘For A Greener NHS’ designed to tackle the climate “health emergency”, which it announced this weekend.
Cities have opportunity to address climate crisis & create more liveable places by joining dots between transport, energy & built environment
Thursday, November 14, 2019
- New report shows how cities are delivering emissions reductions and wider benefits by making connections between sectors
Topic:
Critical challenges and solutions to improving transport in city regions identified ahead of party conferences
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
The challenges to improving transport in the UK’s city regions and the solutions needed to overcome them have been set out by the Urban Transport Group today.
City transport bodies call on Government to make practical policy changes to improve air quality
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
A coalition of city region transport authorities have today called on Government to make five practical policy changes to help assist them in improving air quality in their areas.
Investing in ‘right’ transport policies key to achieving UK’s net zero goal
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
The Urban Transport Group has today responded to the UK’s move to legislate for net zero carbon emissions.
Topic:
Pages
