The Urban Transport Group (UTG) has today set out its transport priorities for the new Government, as Andy Burnham enters Downing Street as Prime Minister.

UTG – the UK’s network of transport authorities, which together serve over 30 million people across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – has set out the opportunity that transport and devolution can play in the new Prime Minister’s mission to bring good growth, hope and opportunity to every postcode.  

Among the key interventions for Government are:

• Supporting the bus – by retaining a bus fare cap at an appropriate level to support patronage growth and help UTG’s members deliver successful bus reform programmes, as well as supporting the delivery of ambitious Enhanced Partnerships to ensure that local authorities have the right tools to deliver on their ambitious plans for bus.  
• Unlocking further fiscal devolution – by working at pace to unlock the opportunities presented by fiscal devolution, and by committing to deliver further flexibility, long-term certainty and autonomy in the current multiyear funding mechanisms.  
• Accelerating the devolution path – by enabling a quicker path for Mayoral Strategic Authorities to gain Established status and access to Integrated Settlements.  
• Continuing progress on regulations, guidance and policy – such as a new statutory role for Mayors in the Railways Bill; progressing at pace with enforcing and regulating pavement parking; bringing forward legislation on wholesale reform of taxi and PHV licensing; speeding up and decentralising the granting of Transport and Works Act Orders; amending the Traffic Sign Regulations to enable the use of non-prescribed zebra crossings; and deliver a legislative and regulatory framework for micromobility.

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

“Transport is the link between opportunity and outcomes, turning economic potential into real, everyday benefits for people, communities and businesses. Deeper devolution ensures that those people and places, their needs and priorities, come first.

“We warmly welcome Andy Burnham in his new role as Prime Minister. Our members stand ready to help him and his new Government deliver its ambitious vision and enable good growth through transport.”