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 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.
Our asks of Government on Brexit and urban transport
MHCLG Review of local authorities’ relative needs and resources
Principles for the Rail Review
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.
Active Travel Inquiry
Local roads funding and governance
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Working with young people to make buses better - a guide for the bus sector
Written after young people, bus companies, transport authorities and government departments got together to look at ways to improve young people’s access to, and experience of, using buses. A companion guide for young people is also available.
How can I make buses better? A guide for young people
Written after young people, bus companies, transport authorities and government departments got together to look at ways to improve young people’s access to, and experience of, using buses. A companion guide for the bus sector is also available.
Underpinning Policy - Modelling Bus Subsidy in English Metropolitan Areas
Forecasts the medium term implications for English metropolitan areas of changes to bus subsidy.
Value for money and appraisal of small public transport schemes
Builds the evidence base on the value for money of small public transport schemes by compiling and analysing a database of close to 150 schemes.
Thriving Cities - Integrated land use and transport planning
Setting out the stark choices ahead in new planning reforms, this report recommends three 'golden rules' for future planning policy. The report also highlights good and bad practice on transport and land use planning and calls for local authorities and Local Economic Partnerships to proactively draw up highly sustainable masterplans for development sites of key significance. More widely it argues that planning processes should universally include the bodies responsible for local transport.
Total Transport - Working across sectors to achieve better outcomes
This report highlights the essential role of public transport, walking and cycling in achieving key health, social care and employment policy goals. It warns that this contribution could be put at risk unless there is more focus on collaborative, cross-sector funding and delivery of transport interventions. It outlines eleven practical steps towards a 'Total Transport' approach which would see partners come together from across policy divides.
Cycling in the city regions: Technical report
This document reports the results of a series of modelling exercises intended to estimate the potential impact and value for money of a step change in the delivery of interventions to support and promote cycling in the six PTE areas. The purpose of this exercise is to support decision-makers in developing effective strategies aimed at increasing cycling levels in the metropolitan areas.
Cycling in the city regions: Delivering a step change
This report explores the potential impact of a step change in the delivery of interventions to support and promote cycling in the English city regions outside of London. It finds that the greatest potential for increasing cycling in the UK can be found in the city regions.
Rail Cities in the 21st Century - The Case for Devolution
Modern and efficient rail networks are key to ensuring that city regions can grow in a green and smart way. But to realise the potential of urban rail, remote control by Whitehall needs to be replaced with local control by the city regions themselves. Only then can rail play its part in the fully integrated, responsive public transport networks that the city regions need.
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ORR Retail Market Review
Network Rail Access Rights
EC Regulation 1370-2007
The case for rail devolution in London
Monitoring Highways England
Mid Term Review of European Commission 2011 White paper
Senior Traffic Commissioners Guidance document no. 14 on Local Bus Services
Local Authority highways maintenance funding
ORR Retail market review
Cycling Delivery Plan
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Urban Transport Group strengthened as Northern Ireland’s public transport provider joins up
Membership of the Urban Transport Group has received a significant boost today as Translink, Northern Ireland’s main public transport provider, has joined as an Associate Member.
South Yorkshire transport chief is new Chair of Urban Transport Group
Stephen Edwards, the Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), is the new Chair of the Urban Transport Group.
His appointment follows the end of the two-year term of outgoing Chair Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director at Nexus.
Rail Review must deliver further devolution to realise world-class railway
The Government’s ‘root and branch’ review into rail must bring about further devolution of rail responsibilities if the UK is to realise its ambition of creating a world-class railway, says the Urban Transport Group.
Urban Transport Group launches new analysis - and research programme - into causes of bus patronage decline
- Analysis finds many background trends are unfavourable to the bus but that common factors exist in areas where the bus is bouncing back
The Urban Transport Group has today published initial analysis of the causes behind the decline in bus patronage.
‘Transit oriented development’ can help meet housing demand and reduce car-based urban sprawl, says report
- Report sets out five point plan to realise more building developments based around sustainable, public transport and active travel
Leading urban transport data tool relaunches with expansive range of new statistics
- Refreshed Data Hub expands ability to ‘select, visualise and share’ key transport data
Urban Transport Group appoints transport heavyweight to investigate benefits of locally-run rail stations
Transport expert Stephen Joseph is to investigate the benefits that flow from devolved authorities' involvement in railway stations, for a new report for the Urban Transport Group.
Urban Transport Group welcomes appointment of Andrew Jones as Rail Minister
The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the appointment of Andrew Jones MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, with responsibility for rail.
Transport crucial to achieving Government’s ‘Prevention is better than cure’ vision
The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care’s ‘Prevention is better than cure’ vision, whilst also highlighting th
Transport key to ‘putting towns back on the map’, says report
Transport has a key role to play in helping the UK’s post-industrial towns to thrive – putting them firmly back on the map, a report by the Urban Transport Group finds today.