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But the report paints a stark picture for both bus and light rail systems should this support be withdrawn prematurely.

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Related Resources

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Paper suggests “rapid and deep cut” in bus services if COVID-19 financial backing were to be withdrawn prematurely

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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:

Coronavirus

Bus

Regional and Urban Rail

Building back better on urban transport

September, 2020

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.

With the release from national lockdown we have ramped up public transport, and prioritised cycling and walking, to support a green and just recovery.

In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet that challenge.

Download Full Report

Topic:

Coronavirus

Bus

Regional and Urban Rail