• Letter to Prime Minister highlights transport’s role in kickstarting economic growth

Reforming bus services and creating Great British Railways are the key transport priorities that city regions are ready to support should they feature in the new Government’s legislative plans.

Ahead of next Wednesday’s State Opening of Parliament, the Urban Transport Group – the UK’s network of transport authorities, which together serve over 30 million people – has written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer to outline the most pressing transport reforms required in the King’s Speech.

The bus is the most used form of public transport (accounting for around 60% of all public transport trips in England), providing access to employment, education and social opportunities, but has faced long-term decline in passenger numbers and year-on-year cuts to service levels. Rail plays a vital role in connecting large city regions and moving commuters into urban centres but has also seen challenges from changing travel patterns, reduced service levels and extended industrial disputes.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

“Good public transport is the bedrock of a strong economy.

“Having the right legislation is the key to unlocking the true potential of public transport. It is vitally important if we are to create growing local economies which are great places to live, work and visit.

“As city regions, we stand ready to support the new Government to place transport policy at the centre of its legislative plans, and most critically, to deliver reforms to bus and rail services.”

Key priorities that could transform transport in the King’s Speech, include:

• enacting bus reforms at pace - giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding, extending the right to franchise bus services to all areas, and removing the restrictions on the establishment of new municipal bus companies
• urgently creating Great British Railways and devolving powers to give Mayors and Combined Authorities a meaningful, statutory role in the new railway framework
• supporting effective highways management - enabling zebra crossings at side road junctions to be implemented more quickly and easily, and reform pavement parking enforcement
• creating a regulatory framework for micromobility, including a new Low Speed Zero Emission Vehicle (LZEV) category and giving local areas responsibility for regulating the micromobility rental market (such as e-scooters and e-bikes)
• strengthening taxi and private hire vehicle legislation to support better outcomes for people and places.
• progressing with the devolution of powers and funds for transport, as set out in local devolution deals

“With these legislative changes in place, our members will be able to play their role in kickstarting economic growth and delivering the wide-reaching social, health and environmental benefits that integrated and sustainably funded transport networks can bring,” Mr Prince added.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Prime Minister

I am writing to you in advance of the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July, when your government will outline your legislative priorities for the upcoming Parliamentary term.

You set out an ambitious programme for government ahead of the General Election, that aims to kickstart economic growth, accelerate the transition to net zero, break down barriers to opportunity, and keep people safe and healthy. Transport is a fundamental enabler to economic growth and essential in delivering the government’s missions.

As the UK’s network of urban transport authorities serving over 30 million people across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, our members are working to create transport networks that support the delivery of these missions, transport networks which are sustainably funded and affordable; deliver social value; are green and resilient; and are trusted by the people they serve.

However, transport systems in many areas of the UK are not delivering on their true potential. Our members need the financial and legislative tools and certainty to enable them to plan with confidence for the long-term to deliver efficient, resilient, integrated local transport networks which are responsive to current and future challenges.

As city regions, we stand ready to support your government to deliver your ambitious transport agenda and urge you to place transport policy at the centre of your legislative plans and deliver at pace the reforms set out below.

Legislate to enact bus reforms

• We support your commitment to reform bus services across England, including moves to give local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding; extending the right to franchise bus services to all areas; making the franchising process less onerous; and removing the restrictions on the establishment of new municipal bus companies. We would urge you to proceed with implementing these at pace to ensure they can support Local Transport Authorities in improving their bus networks as soon as possible.
• In addition to plans already set out, bus reforms should also include:
  • Helping bus franchising authorities to tackle fare evasion and promote safety by amending the Public Passenger Vehicle Act 1981 (section 25) to extend prosecuting powers to the employees of a franchising authority.
  • Enable franchising authorities to introduce byelaws to tackle anti-social behaviour on vehicle, within bus stations and at bus stops. These powers are already available for light rail networks.
  • Amend the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990 to give accredited Transport Safety Officers working under Community Safety Accredited Schemes the same legal status as drivers, inspectors and conductors to deal with anti-social behaviour on board bus as well as enforcing conditions of carriage.
  • Amend the Bus Services Act 2017 to allow transport authorities to make changes to franchising schemes more readily, making transport networks more responsive to the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.
• Further consideration also must be given to supporting our members in delivering zero emission bus fleets, through long term funding and policy certainty and a fit-for-purpose Distribution Network Operator (DNO) application process.

Legislate for the creation of Great British Railways

• We support your plans for rail reform and would urge you to progress with these at pace.
• We would urge that any such plans devolve powers where appropriate and give Mayors and Combined Authorities a meaningful, statutory role in the new railway framework.
  • Such a role should ensure that decision making on rail is bought as close as possible to the local communities it sets out to serve. Their expertise and knowledge should be fully utilised in governing, managing, planning and developing a rail network that integrates with the wider local transport network, enhances passenger experience and maximises synergies with local plans and priorities.
  • The door should remain open for further devolution of rail services and infrastructure where appropriate, including powers for Mayors and Combined Authorities to take over ownership and operation of railway stations located in their areas.
• The legislative process for the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill to deliver new rail infrastructure between Manchester and High Legh as part of trans-north links between Liverpool, Manchester Airport, Manchester and Leeds should be resumed as quickly as possible.

Legislate to support effective highways management

• Make the change to regulations to enable zebra crossings at side road junctions to be implemented much more quickly and easily. Evidence suggests that these can make a huge difference in the perception of safety for pedestrians.
• Address pavement parking management legislation, following the 2020 consultation.
• Explore devolving decision making around Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAOs) to Mayors and Combined Authorities, combined with modernising the procedural requirements for implementing a TWAO.
• Formalise in statute National Highways duty to cooperate to ensure they engage and consult with Mayors and Combined Authorities or the equivalent tier of local government – both in their role as statutory consultees in the planning process and in the allocation and apportionment of their funding.
• Introduce new legislation to enable implementation of a London-wide, Transport for London administered Lane Rental Scheme.

Strengthen taxi and private hire vehicle legislation

• Strengthen taxi and private hire vehicle legislation to support better outcomes for people and places.

Create a regulatory framework for the local micromobility market 

• Create a new Low Speed Zero Emission Vehicle (LZEV) category.
• Local areas need to be given responsibility for regulating the micromobility rental market (including pedal bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and all vehicles under the LZEV class) working under a national framework with scope for strategic transport authorities to go above and beyond these national standards at the local level. A new national enabling framework should:
  • Provide strategic transport authorities with the option to use powers to regulate micromobility rental services, including around operators and fleets; parking; areas of operation; costs; contractual terms; and operating standards.
  • Set rigorous construction and technical standards at national level for private and rental e-scooters.
  • Establish a common enforcement framework for police forces.
  • Introduce national minimum requirements around use of e-scooters in terms of use on the road (and which parts); applicable offences and enforcement; and usage requirements such as licencing and vehicle registration.
  • Improve regulation of lithium-ion battery e-bikes and e-scooters to prevent poor quality products, and support for safety regulatory testing for electrically powered vehicles.

Legislate to progress with devolution of powers and funds

• Progress with enabling Level 4 Devolution deals through the relevant legislation, as well as on proposals for a transport related single settlement. We would urge you to consider increasing devolved scheme thresholds and work to further enhance and strengthen the transport powers contained in the current L4 framework.
• Finalise and implement single settlements at pace, for Greater Manchester and West Midlands, expanding access to such settlements to other MCAs as soon as possible.
• Grant greater powers to Transport for London to enable effective scheme delivery, through legislative amendments making it explicit that TfL is able to acquire land (or any interest in land) through a Joint Venture; grant Permitted Development rights for small scale works and development; and amend current consenting process on operational land disposal.

With these legislative changes in place, our members will be able to play their role in kickstarting economic growth and delivering the wide-reaching social, health and environmental benefits that integrated and sustainably funded transport networks can unlock.

Yours sincerely,

Jason Prince

Director, Urban Transport Group

CC Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport