The pathway to a brighter transport future
Invest and grow
This Spending Review is a critical moment to secure the future of public transport, cycling, walking and wheeling, moving us along the pathway to a brighter future.
It presents an opportunity to invest in local transport to safeguard its vital contribution to achieving the Government’s missions. The chance to boost economic growth; promote healthy lives; keep our streets safe; break down barriers to opportunity; and accelerate to net zero.
Our ambition: Delivering growth
Our cities are the focal points for economic growth, attracting people, jobs and investment. However, without good transport connectivity and the ability to move large volumes of people efficiently, their productivity and ability to grow and build will be capped.
Our members have undertaken transformative projects and initiatives, enabled by devolved powers, responsibilities and funds, along with the associated flexibility, capacity and long-term strategic planning ability. These projects have delivered growth, unlocked access to opportunity and served as catalysts for inward investment, jobs, new housing and modal shift.

Central government funding must offer long-term certainty, enable local decision-making, be simple to administer and recognise the need for a steady transition to build capacity and capability, particularly for smaller or newer authorities.
The Spending Review can enable transport authorities to build a stable footing by delivering the following:
Reform and provide long-term certainty of bus revenue support
This Spending Review must commit to a single, multi-year funding settlement for bus (which will be incorporated into Integrated Settlements as more of these are agreed), allocated on a fair formula basis with local autonomy to decide where funding is best targeted and with accountability mechanisms to ensure value for money (whilst being cautious not to impose excessive burdens on limited local authority resources).
Confirm CRSTS 2 allocations and previously announced uplifts
We urge the Government to fully commit to the long-term funding of CRSTS, including the previously announced uplifts, treating the scheme as a single long-term funding stream rather than separate funding allocations with greater flexibility and retained scheme thresholds. There should be confirmation of capital and revenue split and greater flexibility and retained schemes thresholds. Without confirmation of CRSTS 2 allocations and uplifts, transformational projects begun in CRSTS 1 will not be delivered and programme objectives will not be met.
Continue progress towards Integrated Settlements
We urge the Government to continue progress on flexible and adequate multi-year Integrated Settlements for MCAs.
Unlock local rail funding and investment levers
We urge the government to grant MCAs the necessary fiscal freedoms and local investment levers to enable them to raise and allocate funding to invest in the local rail network and to be in a position to locally commission services with commercial exposure. Consideration also should be given to devolved funding settlements from within existing local railway budgets to further enable meaningful MCA prioritisation and decision making.
Invest in the delivery of zero emission buses
We urge the Government to introduce a long-term and sustained funding mechanism to support the ongoing procurement of zero emission buses.
Provide sustainable long-term funding to local authorities
We urge the government to use this Spending Review to provide a sustainable long-term solution to funding local councils.
Commit to greater fiscal devolution
We urge the government to use this Spending Review to unlock greater local investment levers to support financial sustainability and independence.
Provide a multi-year funding settlement for Transport for London
We urge the government to provide funding certainty for TfL to enable it to properly maintain and renew transport assets and to honour existing contracts to deliver upgrades to the network.
City regions are the drivers of growth and our members are already delivering transport projects that are boosting economic prosperity, unlocking housing and employment opportunities, improving productivity and raising living standards across these places.
Getting the right funding in the Spending Review is vital if this is to continue.

Investment in local transport should no longer be viewed as a cost to be trimmed. Rather it is an enabler, a vital foundation to promote a growing, green, equitable and healthy society.
Funding certainty along with greater fiscal devolution will ensure that every penny of investment is targeted and maximised to achieve the biggest impact on local economies and communities, allowing alignment with local plans for the employment, housing, health, skills and net zero, in turn supporting national Government to achieve its missions.
Other reports in 'The pathway to a brighter transport future series'
Report
The pathway to a brighter transport future: Harnessing the opportunity of our local railways
Report
The pathway to a brighter transport future: Delivering growth through transport devolution
Report