The Resource Centre holds all our documents (briefings, consultation responses, press releases and reports). Signed-in members also have access to projects. You can search the Resource Centre by topic or by type of document.
Resources
Resources
Towards an appropriate legal and regulatory framework for smart futures on transport
Commissioned from consultants Steer, this report seeks to provide an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses the current UK legal and regulatory framework for smart transport futures in relation to the key challenges that UK transport authorities face. It also explores the potential for anticipatory regulation, principles that could underpin any changes to the framework and recommendations for priority areas in need of reform.
Transport Decarbonisation Plan
Action stations: How devolution is transforming rail stations for the better
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.
The key COVID-19 challenges for urban transport and the support we need from Government
Future of Transport Regulatory Review
Supporting bus services in the COVID-19 recovery period
e-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation?
Legalising rental e-scooter trials
The urgent need for sustainable bus funding arrangements for bus services in the Covid-19 recovery period
Open letter to Baroness Vere on funding during Coronavirus pandemic
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Air quality
Multi-Operator Ticket Comparison 2019
Bus Fares Research 2019
Our asks of Government on Brexit and urban transport
Doing more for less - How working together on transport cuts costs and saves time
How the health sector works: a guide for transport professionals
How the transport sector works: a guide for health professionals
Transport authorities and universities – how can we work more closely together?
Briefing on Bus Rapid Transit
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MaaS movement? Issues and options on Mobility as a Service for city region transport authorities
This report examines the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) - schemes which provide access to information on, and payment for, transport options via a single digital platform.
It identifies the three key factors that will determine the future of MaaS and also sets out the issues and options for city regions on the role they might play in shaping MaaS in their areas.
Number crunch 2019: Urban transport trends in changing times
We are living in rapidly changing times. Big shifts are taking place in urban transport trends.
Number crunch 2019 is the second in our Number crunch report series and provides an updated overview of the key trends over the last ten years, as well as taking a look at what the new and most recent data is telling us. The report also investigates some new issues – including housing need and social inclusion.
In these changing times, the case for coordinated and integrated transport planning at the city region level is stronger than ever. So is the case for long term funding frameworks for local urban transport rather than stop-start funding as is currently the case.
How people respond to the experience of bus travel and the implications for the future of bus services
This literature review - carried out by SYSTRA for the Urban Transport Group - aims to appraise the existing evidence base on the range of factors that influence how people respond to the experience of bus travel, with a focus on the social-emotional experience of bus travel and on the experiences of different socio-demographic groups.
The review does not aim to act as a ‘to-do’ list to complete in order to improve bus travel experiences. Any learnings taken should acknowledge that the bus services assessed in the literature are often hyper-local and therefore are experienced in a very individual market.
The cross-sector benefits of backing the bus
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.
What's driving bus patronage change? An analysis of the evidence base
This report explores a range of factors relevant to bus patronage decline, under the themes of social and economic change; alternatives to the bus; and public attitudes to bus travel.
It finds that changing travel habits as a result of different lifestyles and working patterns, wider demographic and economic shifts, the rise of on-demand services, exemplified by runaway growth in Private Hire Vehicles, are amongst the many background factors affecting patronage.
The report also looks at areas where bus use is high or is growing and seeks to draw some initial conclusions about common denominators.
The place to be: How transit oriented development can support good growth in the city regions
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
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
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.
Active Travel: Solutions for changing cities
Over the last decade promoting active travel has moved from the fringes of urban transport policy to a much more central role in the planning of cities and their transport networks. This is because the promotion of active travel, and the creation of places and streetscapes where people want to walk and cycle, is such a good fit with where cities that are going places want to be.
In this report we take a detailed look at how active travel schemes can transform cities for the better – from Bristol to Inverness and from post-industrial Northern cities to the heart of the City of London.
Rail Cities UK: Our vision for their future
Significant rail expansion is the 'only viable option' to help UK cities achieve their ambitions on economic growth and meeting housing demand, whilst also creating attractive urban centres with less road traffic and better air quality.
This report sets out a vision of what a step change in rail provision could mean for passengers and cities - and the obstacles that stand in the way.
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Williams Rail Review - Call for evidence: objectives and assessment criteria
Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing: Protecting Users - Consultation on Statutory Guidance for Licensing Authorities
Spending Review 2019
MHCLG Review of local authorities’ relative needs and resources
Principles for the Rail Review
Active Travel Inquiry
Local roads funding and governance
Health of the bus market
Transport appraisal and modelling strategy: informing future investment decisions
Transport (Scotland) Bill
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City regions respond to Government’s COVID-19 funding for urban public transport
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.
Urban Transport Group responds to Government’s plans to boost walking and cycling
The Urban Transport Group has responded to the Government’s plans to overhaul walking and cycling in England.
Jonathan Bray, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:
Statement on the DfE Return to Schools Policy
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:
Urban Transport Group expands reach as Transport for Wales joins ranks
The Urban Transport Group is marking a major milestone today as Transport for Wales, the not-for-profit company driving forward the Welsh Government’s vision of a high quality, safe, integrated, affordable and accessible transport network, is joining the network as an Associate Member.
City regions welcome e-scooter trials but highlight need for safeguards
City region transport authorities have welcomed Government plans to bring forward trials of e-scooters to explore the role they might play in the future of urban transport and to inform future decisions around the legislative framework.
Open letter from transport authorities to Minister on urgent need for restart funding
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.
How Urban Transport Group is responding to the coronavirus crisis
The Urban Transport Group’s number one priority is to support our members (the public sector transport authorities for the largest city regions) in responding to the coronavirus crisis in the best way they can for the users of their services, their people and the places they serve.
Uncertainties around pace & scale of autonomous vehicle rollout laid bare in new report
‘Considerable uncertainties’ about how fast and how far the rollout of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will go in the UK has been outlined in a report from the Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities.