The Government must use the forthcoming Budget to “maintain the momentum” that is transforming local transport across England’s urban areas. 

That is the key message of the Urban Transport Group’s submission to Treasury ahead of the fiscal announcement, which takes place on 26 November. 

The submission recognises the “significant vote of confidence” in public transport from June’s Spending Review, which set out £15.6 billion of (largely capital) funding for nine eligible Mayoral Combined Authorities (all of which are UTG members) for transport schemes and services. 

The Budget submission urges Government to capitalise on this Spending Review funding by providing revenue funding that will help to realise the full potential of capital projects and ambitions for bus networks. 

The submission contains two recommendations: 

1. Commit to long-term revenue funding certainty for bus that recognises the ambition and commitment of local areas to protect and enhance bus networks.    
2. Commit to sufficient revenue funding to support capacity; planning and delivery of capital projects; and the ongoing success and maintenance of those projects, enabling maximum returns on investment. 

Rebecca Fuller, Assistant Director of the Urban Transport Group, said: 

“City regions are at the forefront of delivering game-changing new transport schemes and services. These include bringing light rail systems in-house, like in South Yorkshire, getting ready for spades in the ground on mass transit schemes, as in West Yorkshire, and progressing plans to franchise bus services across a number of English cities. 

“Government must now match the bold capital funding announced at the Spending Review with ongoing revenue funding. This would allow our members to realise their ambitions on bus and flagship capital transport projects, as well as enable Government’s own aspirations for bus through the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill.” 

You can read the full Urban Transport Group Budget submission to HM Treasury here.