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
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
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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
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Automatic for the people? Issues and options for transport authorities on connected and autonomous vehicles
March, 2020
This report aims to provide an objective framework for city regions to think about connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and the approaches they might take to them.
It looks at CAVs from the perspective of city region transport authorities in the context of their wider objectives and responsibilities; it recognises that vehicles are becoming increasingly connected and autonomous; and that the range of connected and autonomous vehicles goes beyond just cars to include buses and public service vehicles. It also analyses the safety, economic, social and environmental considerations of CAVs.
The report presents options for how transport authorities may respond to CAVs, and recommends the actions national Government should take to enable them to do so.
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Budget representations 2020
February, 2020
Consulting body:
HM Treasury
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The Local Transport Lottery - The costs and inefficiencies of funding local transport through ad hoc competitions
February, 2020
This report takes an in-depth look at the implications of an excessive reliance on competition funding for urban transport projects.
The research shows how such a reliance impacts local authorities’ ability to deliver value for money and places pressure on authorities and their staff.
The report is based on surveys and one-to-one interviews with senior officers responsible for delivering transport policies, programmes and projects in some of England’s largest city regions.
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Automated Vehicles: Passenger services and public transport
February, 2020
Consulting body:
Law Commission
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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.
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How bus users spend their journey time
November, 2019
This research - conducted by transport consultancy SYSTRA on behalf of the Urban Transport Group - uncovers valuable insights into how passengers spend their time while travelling by bus, and sets out the implications for future bus design and promotion.
The research was based on surveys of over 1,100 people on two different bus routes in Leeds and Nottingham. The two routes both provide a high frequency service and operate with double decker buses with leather seats, WiFi and USB ports - some of the best on-board facilities available. However, the profile of passengers between the two routes was somewhat different, with passengers in Leeds tending to be older, working or retired, whilst a higher proportion of respondents in Nottingham were students, due to the bus route travelling along the university corridor.
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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.
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What scope for boosting bus use? An analysis of the Intrinsic Bus Potential of local authority areas in England
October, 2019
This research, by Transport for Quality of Life, identifies the underlying conditions that best predict levels of bus use in local areas. It points to six conditions which, when combined, are used to define the ‘Intrinsic Bus Potential’ (IBP) of a local authority area. These include the Index of Multiple Deprivation, the proportion of students, and rush-hour traffic travel times.
The report also identifies additional factors which may explain why some areas exceed expectations with higher levels of bus use than predicted, such as a pre-existing culture of bus use, high levels of bus provision, and local factors such as poor rail connectivity.
The research has a number of important implications, including the need for radical change on bus policy to enable more areas to do significantly better on bus patronage.
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What do the health reforms mean for PTEs?
May, 2013
A pteg briefing, written with support from Sustrans and Dr Adrian Davis, on the opportunities for PTEs presented by the Government's health reforms.
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A better deal for the bus from the Spending Review
April, 2013
Summarises how buses are funded, the raw deal they have been getting, and how the Spending Review can give the bus the greater share of available funding that it deserves given its contribution to multiple Government policy goals.
Transport number crunch
February, 2013
In this briefing we seek to place the 2011 and 2012 Autumn Statements in the context of other major changes in transport funding that have taken place since May 2010, analysing the implications for local transport.
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Funding shift - How the regional cities lose out on transport
February, 2013
This briefing looks at three current and emerging trends on transport funding which threaten to take funding out of the major urban areas of the Midlands and the North.
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Concessionary Travel: The funding timebomb for PTEs
November, 2012
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme has been highly successful in giving older and disabled people the freedom of free off‐peak bus travel. But the costs of the scheme are rising fast whilst funding is falling. This financial ‘timebomb’ will lead to severe cuts in other frontline transport services unless a sustainable funding solution can be found.
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Tram-trains - From suburban station to the heart of the city
July, 2012
Brochure explaining the key features of tram-trains, their potential, their use in Europe and plans for tram-train in the UK.
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Rail in the North
November, 2011
A booklet by the Rail in the North All Party Parliamentary Group exploring key policy issues affecting rail in the North of England.
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The rail industry - an introduction
August, 2011
A basic introduction to the way the rail industry works, highlighting its key features and mechanisms.
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Rail Cities in the 21st Century - The Case for Devolution
October, 2010
pteg's vision for rail in the city regions
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Moving city region transport forwards
September, 2010
An introduction to the work and priorities of pteg
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Small but Mighty: Delivering big value for money
June, 2015
This report reviews ten examples of small scale transport schemes that have been delivered by pteg members. The case studies range from intelligent bus priority, to journey planning advice, cycle hire and new bus links. The report shows that small schemes can achieve outstanding value for money by: making use of local knowledge; being responsive to changing circumstances; and by being effectively targeted. Small schemes can also help provide proof of concept for novel interventions.
This report builds on our 2011 report on the ‘Value for money and appraisal of small schemes’, which gathered over 150 separate pieces of evidence and showed that, on average, smaller schemes deliver £3.50 of economic benefits for every £1 of public spending. Our wider work demonstrating the impact of local transport spending also includes the 2014 ‘Transport Works for Jobs and Growth’ report, the 2013 ‘Case for the Urban Bus’ report and the transportworks.org website.
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Revenue vs Capital Mismatch
March, 2015
The next few years will see an upward trend in local transport capital grant funding from central government, supported by a wide-ranging consensus about the contribution of local transport networks to economic growth. In contrast, Local Authorities have seen a sustained decline in resource funding, driven by deep cuts to the Department for Communities and Local Government‟s (DCLG) budget. And there is no sign the cuts are about to stop. As the mismatch between capital and revenue funding grows, this could ultimately damage the effectiveness of capital investment in local transport networks. This report explores how resource funding constraints are affecting the delivery of local transport capital schemes and how this is likely to evolve over the next few years.
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A Healthy Relationship: Public health and transport collaboration in local government
February, 2015
This report sets out the findings of a survey of all Directors of Public Health (DsPH) in England. The survey investigated the extent of collaboration between public health and transport teams within local government since public health teams moved into top-tier local authorities in April 2013. As well as analysis of survey results, the report includes a series of case studies exploring examples of good practice in more detail. The majority of DsPH responding to the survey said that there had been an improvement in the extent of their team’s collaboration with transport planning colleagues since the move to local government. Most placed a medium to high priority to on the health impacts of road transport in their work programme; had had the opportunity to engage with the development of local transport plans; and had participated in jointly funded projects and data sharing with transport colleagues. DsPH identified a number of barriers to further joint working, but there were also numerous examples of good practice. The research was conducted for pteg by public health and transport specialist, Dr Adrian Davis.
Delivering the future: New approaches to urban freight
February, 2015
This report highlights the essential role of urban freight in ensuring the effective functioning of the UK economy and presents a fresh vision designed to safeguard this role as well as protect the environment and quality of life for communities. It envisages that every opportunity should be taken for freight to make its way to urban areas by rail or water, either directly into those areas, or into the major distribution parks that serve them. It argues that those distribution sites should be located so that it is practical for goods to travel the last mile(s) into urban centres using zero/low emission modes. These last mile journeys should be achieved as safely, unobtrusively and with as little environmental impact as possible. The report explores a number of ideas that could assist in achieving this vision and calls for a broader, nationwide freight strategy to provide direction and leadership to the industry and its stakeholders.
Ticket to Thrive: The role of urban public transport in tackling unemployment
February, 2015
This report reveals the vital role of public transport, and the bus in particular, in enabling people to find and sustain employment. Some 77% of jobseekers in British cities outside London do not have regular access to a car, van or motorbike and can face significant barriers to work as a result. The report finds that these barriers include expensive public transport tickets; poorly connected employment sites; mismatches between working hours and available transport; and limited travel horizons. It recommends seven key policies that could help overcome these obstacles, including: a new funding deal to enable local councils to protect lifeline bus services and connect people to opportunity; more effective powers over bus services for local transport authorities, offering them greater control over where and when buses run and the affordability of fares; a review of the potential for an adequately funded national jobseeker and apprentice travel concession.
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Oxford SmartZone
February, 2015
In 2011, the two main bus operators in the city of Oxford introduced an inter-operable smart ticketing system known as the SmartZone. Meanwhile, many other parts of the country have faced significant challenges in attempting to introduce inter-operable smart ticketing in deregulated bus markets. The Oxford system has therefore attracted considerable attention and it has been suggested that it could offer valuable lessons for other areas. This paper explains the context within which the scheme was developed and describes the key features of bus ticketing in the city of Oxford and in its wider travel to work area. The paper then compares the Oxford system with the aspirations of Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs).
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Air Quality in the City Regions: A Transport Toolkit
August, 2014
Aimed at city region authorities, this toolkit provides an accessible overview of the issues and options for tackling air pollution associated with transport.
Making the connections: The cross-sector benefits of supporting bus services
July, 2014
The bus is key to achieving 46 policy goals of 12 of the 24 Departments across Whitehall including the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Treasury, Department of Health, Department for Education and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This report shows how, despite these cross sector benefits, all the main forms of funding for bus services are under severe pressure and sets out how bus funding can be reformed.
Economic Value of Rail in the North of England
July, 2014
This report shows how the North's booming railways are integral to its economic prospects; and shows why future plans for the North's railways should be based on expansion and growth.
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A heavy load to bear - towards a fairer allocation of rail industry costs for regional rail
July, 2014
This report shows how regional rail is allocated a disproportionate share of the railways' overall costs which distorts the wider debate about its value for money. The report sets out how an alternative fairer, more defensible and rational system would halve regional rail's share of government support.
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Bus Services Bill guidance
March, 2017
UTG response to DfT consultation on Bus Services Bill guidance.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
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Urban Congestion
February, 2017
Consulting body:
Transport Select Committee
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Hansford Review into contestability of the UK rail market - questionnaire
January, 2017
Independent review of contestability in the UK rail market to consider third party investment and infrastructure delivery on the national railway - UTG response.
Consulting body:
Network Rail
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The Road to Growth
January, 2017
UTG response to 'The Road to Growth Discussion paper' for Highways England.
Consulting body:
Highways England
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DfT Wider Economic Impacts
January, 2017
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
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RSA Inclusive Growth Commission Response
December, 2016
UTG response to the RSA Inclusive Growth Commission, making the case for how transport can support more inclusive growth.
Consulting body:
Royal Society of Arts
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ORR July 2016 Monitoring Highways England investment
November, 2016
Consulting body:
Office of Rail and Road
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Bus Services Bill Consultation
October, 2016
Consulting body:
Transport Select Committee
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ORR PR18 Initial Consultation
August, 2016
Response to the ORR PR18 initial consultation.
Consulting body:
Office of Rail and Road
Improving the Rail Passenger Experience
May, 2016
Consulting body:
Transport Select Committee
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Research uncovers valuable insights into how bus passengers spend their time
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
New research has uncovered valuable insights into how passengers spend their time while travelling by bus, and sets out the implications for future bus design and promotion.
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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
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Groundbreaking research identifies factors behind high bus use
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
- Research helps predict “good bus territory” and highlights 25 local areas which out-perform their predicted bus use and why
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Urban Transport Group responds to Chancellor’s party conference speech on buses
Monday, September 30, 2019
The Urban Transport Group has today responded to a speech made by the Chancellor in which he described buses as the “backbone of our public transport in most of the country.”
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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.
MaaS movement? New report sets out three key factors that will decide future of Mobility as a Service
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
A new report from the Urban Transport Group says that ‘the future of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is yet to be decided’.
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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.
Urban Transport Group welcomes Prime Minister’s pledge to support city regions in taking back control over their bus services
Monday, July 29, 2019
The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment in his speech at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry this weekend that he will “begin as a matter of urgency the transformation of local bus services”.
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Urban Transport Group welcomes appointment of Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP as Chancellor and sets out city region transport priorities for Spending Review
Thursday, July 25, 2019
The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the appointment of Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and set out its priorities for urban transport in the Government’s forthcoming Spending Review.
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