Haigh Sets Out Vision for Integrated National Transport Strategy
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh today set out her vision for an Integrated National Transport Strategy for England, in a speech at Leeds Civic Hall. The strategy will be published next year.
She said it would take a ‘people first’ approach. This is inspired by Transport for Humans, by behavioural economists Pete Dyson and Rory Sutherland.
‘This people-led approach requires the most radical culture shift in transport thinking in generations’.
Haigh wants the government to ‘support local areas to make all forms of transport work together better’, and her vision is of a coherent transport network that gives people real choice.
The aim is that more places will offer better, more seamless journeys door-to-door. The strategy will cover a 10 year period.
Places of Inspiration
The Bee Network in Greater Manchester is cited as inspiration. It brings together bus, metro and active travel.
The Transport Secretary visited Dijon earlier this year. It is a city about the size of Chester (164,000 residents), and in the mustard capital of France buses run every 5 minutes at peak times and trams every 3 minutes. There is a dial-a-ride service for outlying villages.
Dijon has a single app that unites every mode of transport, and a single body to run the whole system.
‘Its fully integrated transport network is reliable, efficient and effective. And they built it, essentially, from scratch.
Technology is helping Dijon iron out the wrinkles in the system that can put people off using public transport. They are moving to a system where you can use your phone to pay even if it has run out of battery.
Tickets and car parking are priced dynamically depending on levels of air pollution.
With a range of options at your fingertips, no wonder bus and tram journeys have increased by 40% in Dijon’.
Localism
Haigh emphasises that it will be up to local areas to run transport systems. The government is devolving power, for example via the English Devolution White Paper and the Bus Services Bill.
Haigh’s hero Barbara Castle passed the Transport Act 1968, and subsequently in West Yorkshire the Passenger Transport Executive coordinated bus and train services.
But Castle’s vision involved driving change from central government, whereas Haigh’s is to empower local leaders to design and build their own, region-specific networks.
Walking and Cycling
Haigh says the transport system must be sustainable, and that’s where active travel comes in.
‘Walking and cycling should be the best choice for shorter journeys.
Where pavements and cycle tracks are in good repair and people can enjoy expanded hire schemes for bikes and e-scooters’.
Reform of the Appraisal System
The DfT says that it is reforming its appraisal system. This means changing Transport Analysis Guidance, which currently tends to prioritise shaving the odd minute off drivers’ trips.
The objective will be to deliver good value for money and the right outcomes – including economic growth and supporting less affluent areas.
Internal Panel of Experts
An internal panel of experts is being set up to guide the changes to the appraisal system. They will provide strategic advice on the DfT’s capital portfolio.
The experts include:
- Professor Jillian Anable of the Institute for Transport Studies and the University of Leeds and
- Adam Tranter, former West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner
Both Anable and Tranter are knowledgeable about and committed to sustainable transport.
Regional Roadshows and Public Feedback
The government intends to hold regional roadshows to hear from local leaders, transport operators and passenger bodies.
There is also an opportunity for the public to submit their ideas, by 30th January 2025.
Next Steps
The DfT will be appointing an Integrated Transport Commissioner to deliver real change.
An Infrastructure Strategy will be published in Spring 2025. ‘That will set out our priorities for the next decade in transport, provide certainty to the supply chain, and help unlock private investment’.