Transport for Better -

TfGM offices, Manchester,

Thursday 15^th June 2017

The recent Mayoral elections represent another milestone in the changing world of urban transport governance. The third event in our series of three events on transport planning and city leadership gave 50 members and colleagues (both present and online) the opportunity to hear about the developing experience of combined and devolved authorities, including key issues relating to governance and funding.

There were three speakers, all of whom have been responsible for developing long-term transport strategies for Combined Authorities :

Nicola Kane, Interim Head of Strategic Planning and Research,

Transport for Greater Manchester

Sandeep Shingadia, Head of Programme Development, Transport for West Midlands

Ben Still, Managing Director, West Yorkshire Combined Authority

All three speakers demonstrated how Combined Authorities now play a vital role in determining transport strategy, how transport planning has become more visionary and holistic, and how this approach transcends the more localised, mode-based and shorter-term approaches previously adopted. 

The approach sets transport firmly within wider social and economic planning for city regions. Transport investment needs to be justified on a much wider basis than previously, and user benefits should now form only a part of the wider benefits and support for wider policies. Committed long-term funding for devolved authorities is a key part of the package and that in turn has the potential to underpin a sustainable, long-term transport delivery plan.

There are challenges for transport planners to conceive and justify transport in the context of much wider objectives, to understand the political perspective and to assess future demand on the basis of wider objectives being met. Innovation and transformational change also have a role to play.

The devolved bodies offer a whole new opportunity for transport planning where transport plays a core but supportive role in the long-term wellbeing of the city region, and is planned for that purpose.