Passenger Transport 2008: Planning for our Future Passenger Transport Needs will examine both the current and future strategies of the PTA/Es and their impact on the communities that they serve, taken in the context of recent Government policy and legislation. Moreover, in this increasingly uncertain market, this Conference aims to identify the prerequisites necessary for progress and the problem areas that need to be addressed.
Government Policy
In October 2007, the Government published the Paper Towards a Sustainable Transport System, summarising the Department for Transport’s policy and investment plans over the period to 2014; and describes how the Government will implement a new approach to strategic transport planning for the period 2014-19 and beyond.
The Paper is the Government response to both The Eddington Transport Study – which argued that “a well-functioning transport system is vital to the continued success of the UK economy and to our quality of life” – and to Professor Nick Stern’s Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change – which emphasised that “a well-designed strategy can support economic growth and tackle carbon emissions.”
Following the Local Government White Paper Implementation Plan and the new Local Government Performance Framework, there is a renewed emphasis on the importance of local decision-making and, in particular, the role of empowerment and community engagement – encouraging partners to work more closely together to reduce the problems of congestion, pollution and safety, while improving access to jobs and services and community health.
The Government’s Social Exclusion Unit recent research also recommended that all local transport plans must now plan for passenger accessibility.
The Local Transport Bill published in November 2007, and currently going through Parliament, aims 'to imrove public transport giving local authorities greater local freedom and choice with increased flexibility and powers to deliver better bus services and a more integrated transport system tailored to local needs'. The Bill will also pave the way for a new passenger champion to represent bus users in England.
Pteg and the PTEs
At the heart of implementing sustainable public transport solutions in the UK’s major city regions, the six Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) are responsible to the relevant Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs), which represent local authorities in the respective areas.
The PTEs are:
Greater Manchester
Merseyside
South Yorkshire
Tyne and Wear
West Midlands
West Yorkshire
With associate members:
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
Transport for London (TfL)
The PTEs overall remit is to:
“Secure the provision of such public transport services as the PTA for the area consider it appropriate for the Executive to secure for meeting any public transport requirements within the area which in the Authority’s view would not be met apart from any action taken by the Executive for that purpose.”
This includes to:
- Produce the strategies for the development of local public transport networks;
- Manage and plan local rail services (in partnership with the DfT);
- Plan and fund socially necessary bus routes;
- Work in partnership with private operators to improve bus services - for example, through bus priority schemes;
- Run concessionary travel schemes - including those for older, disabled and young people;
- Invest in local public transport networks - including new rail and bus stations;
- Develop and promote new public transport schemes - like light rail and guided bus networks;
- Provide impartial and comprehensive public transport information services - including by phone and internet;
- Manage and maintain bus interchanges, bus stops and shelters.
Promoting and raising awareness nationally of the work of the PTEs, The Passenger Transport Executive Group (pteg) 'formulates strategy and policy as determined by the Director Generals of the six PTEs, enabling the exchange of information and best practice'.
Passenger Transport 2008: Planning for our Future Passenger Transport Needs also aims to examine the vital link between planning effectively for sustainable economic growth with the increasing needs of passengers, including developing effective solutions to congestion and the effects of climate change.