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
National Initiatives on Skills and Diversity for the Transport Sector
Allowing non-physical guided transport modes to be authorised by a Transport and Works Act order
Transport labour market and skills - call for ideas
Mobility as a Service Code of Practice
Public Transport in towns and cities
National Bus Strategy - one year on
Equitable Future Mobility: Ensuring a just transition to net zero transport
This report, jointly prepared by Arup and Urban Transport Group, is intended as a starter for collaborative discussions between authorities, operators and users about the human dimension of the decarbonisation agenda, aiming to make our future transport system available, accessible, affordable and acceptable for all (also know as the Four A's).
The report presents a checklist for assessing the role of future mobility in creating a more equitable travel experience and informing discussions about future policy, infrastructure and services.
It says that embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but that steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
The future of e-scooters
This report sets out first principles to consider in any regulatory reforms around micromobility, before moving on to detailed recommendations on, first, powers to control the micromobility rental market and, second, on construction and use standards specifically for e-scooters, given concerns around the private e-scooter market.
Funding a better future for urban transport
Strategic analysis of current bus safety issues
This report from the Transport Safety Research Centre at Loughborough University reviews the regulatory framework for bus safety in England outside London and makes comparisons with the safety regime in place both elsewhere and for other modes. It also includes the findings from interviews with Local Transport Authorities and other key bodies on their experience of the current bus safety regime. The report finds there is a strong case for significant reform including around standards and the organisation and resourcing of leadership and oversight on bus safety.
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National Initiatives on Skills and Diversity for the Transport Sector
Funding a better future for urban transport
The threat to public transport in the city regions
The role of LRT during and after the pandemic
Briefing on Light Rail
Spending review 2020 analysis
Funding and delivering bus services during the pandemic and beyond
Bus Policy
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Equitable Future Mobility: Ensuring a just transition to net zero transport
This report, jointly prepared by Arup and Urban Transport Group, is intended as a starter for collaborative discussions between authorities, operators and users about the human dimension of the decarbonisation agenda, aiming to make our future transport system available, accessible, affordable and acceptable for all (also know as the Four A's).
The report presents a checklist for assessing the role of future mobility in creating a more equitable travel experience and informing discussions about future policy, infrastructure and services.
It says that embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but that steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
The future of e-scooters
This report sets out first principles to consider in any regulatory reforms around micromobility, before moving on to detailed recommendations on, first, powers to control the micromobility rental market and, second, on construction and use standards specifically for e-scooters, given concerns around the private e-scooter market.
Strategic analysis of current bus safety issues
This report from the Transport Safety Research Centre at Loughborough University reviews the regulatory framework for bus safety in England outside London and makes comparisons with the safety regime in place both elsewhere and for other modes. It also includes the findings from interviews with Local Transport Authorities and other key bodies on their experience of the current bus safety regime. The report finds there is a strong case for significant reform including around standards and the organisation and resourcing of leadership and oversight on bus safety.
Continuing COVID Funding Support for Urban Public Transport
This report finds that if Government’s Covid-related financial support to urban public transport outside London ends (in March 2022), buses would soon be less frequent and more expensive, and patronage would be substantially lower than pre-Covid levels, potentially up to 30% lower.
Further financial support however would halt the decline of bus (and light rail) patronage and has the potential to get patronage levels back towards their pre-pandemic levels. It would also create the opportunity for Government to reform its approach to supporting public transport funding so it can be used to the best effect.
The report recommends that the Government’s Covid-related support to urban public transport is maintained for at least a further 12 months.
Delivering a greener future - Urban freight and the decarbonisation of the city regions
Our city regions rely on the smooth movement of goods to keep supermarket shelves stocked, hospitals supplied with medicine and other equipment, to deliver construction materials and support thriving economies.
However, the current dominance of road freight, produces many negative impacts for our cities.
This report sets out the role for freight in decarbonising city regions and the need for freight to play its part in creating urban areas that are greener, fairer, happier, healthier and more prosperous places.
Making rail reform work for people and places in the city regions
This statement calls for rail reform to both build on the success of the devolution of rail powers which has already taken place, and for structured and meaningful involvement for the city regions in how rail reform plans unfold.
It sets out a range of scenarios for how the proven benefits of devolving further responsibilities for rail could be extended to more passengers and places. These include options for extending and deepening local control and accountability for both rail services, infrastructure and investment.
Fully charged: Powering up the potential of e-bikes in the city regions
This report, produced by consultants Steer for the Urban Transport Group, aims to quantify and understand the potential to increase e-bike uptake in the UK, particularly in the city regions, and the benefits that could be realised as a result. It breaks new ground by presenting different scenarios on the potential for e-bikes to achieve mode shift from cars and taxis, and to deliver environmental and economic benefits.
The report also aims to support urban transport authorities to consider practical approaches to increasing e-bike uptake.
Leading Light: What Light Rail can do for City Regions
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.
Back the Bus to Level Up
This report makes the case for bus revenue funding and reform of how it is provided.
It aims to arrive at a realistic assessment of the revenue funding that will be needed to support the ambitious transformation in bus services envisaged by the National Bus Strategy. It also looks at how the way in which funding is provided could be reformed in order to offer better value for public money and enable it to be targeted in the most effective way locally.
The report:
- Reviews the overall case for revenue support for bus.
- Uses our Metropolitan Bus Model to test different revenue funding scenarios for their impact on service levels, fares and patronage.
- Makes the case for reform of the way in which revenue support for buses is provided.
Building back better on urban transport
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)
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Allowing non-physical guided transport modes to be authorised by a Transport and Works Act order
Transport labour market and skills - call for ideas
Mobility as a Service Code of Practice
Public Transport in towns and cities
National Bus Strategy - one year on
WISP call for evidence
Creating a Road Collision Investigation Branch
Future of Transport regulatory review: regulatory sandboxes
Future of transport regulatory review: zero emission vehicles
Concessionary Travel Covid-19 Recovery Strategy - Consultation: call for evidence
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Response to Queen’s Speech: Transport Bill is opportunity to extend benefits of local control of transport
Responding to the Queen’s Speech, Jonathan Bray, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:
Urban Transport Authorities respond to DfT funding announcement
Responding to today's DfT's funding announcement Chair of the Urban Transport Group, Laura Shoaf, said:
New transport technologies must promote equity and inclusion to deliver just transition to net zero, says report
Embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
Urban Transport Group welcomes Government’s extension of COVID funding for public transport
The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the announcement that Government will extend its COVID funding support for local transport for a further six months.
Transport authorities call for powers to ensure e-scooter services meet local needs
The Urban Transport Group is calling for a new national enabling framework to give locally accountable transport authorities the option to regulate key aspects of micromobility rental services (like e-scooters) in line with local needs and circumstances, in a new report, published today.
Nearly one in three urban bus trips – some 300 million journeys - could be lost without further financial support from Government, report warns
The number of bus passengers in city regions outside London could be up to 30% lower than before the pandemic – a “similar magnitude” to the direct impact which COVID-19 itself has had on demand - if the Government does not extend its financial support for the bus.
Urban Transport Group responds to Levelling Up White Paper
The Urban Transport Group, the network of UK transport authorities, has today responded to the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper.
Greening urban freight key to decarbonising city regions, says report
The greening of urban freight and logistics is central to decarbonisation strategies both nationally and within city regions, says a new report by the Urban Transport Group.
City regions must help shape rail reform to ensure benefits reach more people and places
City regions must ‘have a seat at the table’ when decisions are taken about how the Government’s reform of the railways is implemented – a new statement from the Urban Transport Group urges.
Urban Transport Group responds to new Plan B rules on COVID
The Urban Transport Group has responded to the Government’s decision to move to Plan B rules to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID.