Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, visited Manchester today, Wednesday, 12th February, to launch a series of regional roadshows designed to gather ideas from local leaders and passengers on how to improve transport.

During his visit, Simon Lightwood will discuss with local leaders how transport can best work for their specific area, taking into account there is no one-size-fits-all solution and each region has its own transport challenges.

Eleven roadshows will enable passengers, businesses, and local leaders to have their say on how transport can be transformed through a new people-centred Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Starting in Newcastle and ending in Milton Keynes, and taking in Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Ipswich, Bristol, Brighton, London, and Cornwall, the roadshows will comprise round table discussions to gather insights from councils, businesses, and communities.

The discussions will help shape a ten-year strategy for seamless, integrated journeys by empowering local leaders to build the best transport system for their communities. They will also look at successful integrated systems like the Bee Network in Manchester, and consider which are the best options for rural areas.

The government is looking for ideas on how the strategy can support better integrated public transport, and improve transport in rural areas, as well as ideas that help drivers such as systems to manage traffic flows or help drivers easily find and pay for parking spaces.

Cycling and walking will also be considered, by looking at how they can become the best choice for shorter journeys by prioritising pavement repairs, safer crossings, and a better cycle infrastructure.

Integrated transport could come from better technology that manages traffic, coordinates bus and train timetables so passengers have a maximum 20-minute wait for the next transport mode to arrive, and parking options, all through a single one app.

Part of the government’s Plan for Change is to link up transport, and is an essential part of connecting communities and unlocking economic growth. It is particularly beneficial to people in areas where currently there are poor links for transport to jobs, housing, and education.

Earlier this month, Transport for London and Network Rail signed a Memorandum of Understanding for working together on London’s transport issues by collaborating on shared issues that relate to management of assets, maintenance, and environmental sustainability.

Last year. the Railway Industry Association published a strategy aimed at securing a lower cost and higher performing net zero railway by the middle of the century, with 100% of passenger services and 95% of freight services decarbonised by 2050.

We’ve all had the frustration of our train arriving 10 minutes too late for our connecting bus service. We want more people across England to benefit from more integrated transport that makes day-to-day journeys easier from coordinated timetables and easy route planning to tap in, tap out payments. We will empower local leaders to build a system that’s right for their needs, connecting cars and buses, trams and trains and cycling and walking into one joined-up system. To kick off this process, we’re listening to local leaders across the country to hear how we can best create a new national transport vision that connects all modes of transport, prioritises people at its core and helps deliver our Plan for Change to improve the economy.

Simon Lightwood, Local Transport Minister