On the buses

Transport is fundamental to how society operates. Today there is widespread recognition that we have to live our lives more sustainably under the threat of global climate change and it is clear that transport has to reflect that shift in attitude as much as any other aspect of our culture.

Tackling global climate change is - almost by definition - an issue that requires global solutions. As such, there is a limit to what the UK can achieve unilaterally to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

What we can do, though, is to provide global leadership on this issue and take the steps needed to make a difference where we can - and that applies just as much at the local level as it does on the international stage.

The Local Transport Bill is a perfect example of how we are aiming to promote a more effective, more integrated, and more sustainable transport system for the UK.

Buses are the backbone of the local transport network in this country, with almost 5 billion bus journeys being taken each year. This means that some two thirds of all public transport journeys are made by bus - so if we can make bus services more efficient, reliable and attractive for users, we can go a long way toward tackling congestion on our roads.

Not only will that help communities, commerce, industry, and motorists, but it will also promote a more sustainable transport system and minimise emissions from stop-start traffic, which in turn means better air quality - a particularly important consideration in urban areas.{mosimage}

There are several distinct elements to the Local Transport Bill, but they are all aimed at devolving decision making and
getting local transport moving more effectively.

For example, the bill gives local authorities a range of tools for forging closer partnerships with the bus operators that ultimately deliver much of the local transport service.

In terms of governance, the bill provides greater powers for each area to re-think the strategic planning and operational structures they have in place spanning all the local transport modes.

And finally, the bill also allows more flexibility for local authorities to introduce local congestion charging without having to get Central Government approval, alongside other improvements to the local transport network.

The aim is that make sure that local authorities have the tools needed to ensure that planning and investment is optimised at the strategic level, while creating the powers needed to deliver the integrated transport networks we all want to see operating on the ground.

Under the partnership element of the bill, local authorities will be able to improve bus services through voluntary partnerships, quality partnership schemes, and quality contracts schemes.

Voluntary partnerships, where a local authority agrees a set of standards with an operator, are already making a real difference in parts of the country such as Sheffield. And as an added benefit, the bill will also address concerns previously raised by several local authorities and bus operators that competition law can act as a barrier to beneficial partnership working.

Beyond voluntary partnerships, we have the quality partnership scheme where the local authority delivers new investment - for example, dedicated bus lanes - in return for an operator's agreement to improve the service.

The idea here is to make quality partnership schemes a more attractive option for local authorities, allowing them to work with operators to specify the things that passengers really value, such as frequencies, timings and maximum fares. To be clear though, bus operators will not have a "right of veto" over the inclusion of particular requirements in such schemes.

Lastly, the bill makes quality contracts - similar to London-style bus franchising - a much more realistic alternative for local authorities by introducing more flexible "public interest" criteria.

These changes are all aimed at creating more productive relationships between bus operators and local authorities, but we are also keen to ensure that the local authorities are working closely with neighbouring authorities and other relevant bodies - such as Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs). That is why the Local Transport Bill devotes significant attention to governance.

At present, PTAs and PTEs play a crucial role in delivering public transport in our major cities. But the current arrangements have been in place for several decades and there is a feeling that a more flexible framework is required.

Given how long it's been since some of the present PTAs were set up, it's also no surprise that in some areas it might be that boundaries no longer match modern travel patterns in certain cases, which presents a real opportunity to strengthen the way transport is managed.

As a result, the Local Transport Bill will allow the renamed Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs) to play a far stronger role in planning and delivering local transport. As such, it represents a real break from the past and puts the impetus for change firmly in the hands of local representatives.

With urban congestion on the increase, this is a vital contribution to ensuring that we have the leadership in place to address strategic issues on local transport. Under this system, the ITA will have a mechanism in place to get greater input from a wide variety of expert groups, including operators, economists, transport planners, passenger and environmental groups.

The final major element of the Local Transport Bill relates to congestion charging and the recent announcement on Greater Manchester's TIF bid highlights exactly what we're trying to do with this Bill.

A key element of the scheme is to relieve urban congestion while investing in public transport alternatives. As a result, the Manchester proposals include £2.8 billion of investment across a host of public transport improvements, which would be largely completed before peak-time only congestion charges are introduced in 2013.

Not only that, but the bill also confirms that any revenues are for the local authority to spend on local transport, even after the first 10 years of the scheme.

The Local Transport Bill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink local transport and promote coherent, integrated networks where buses connect with trains, where roadworks are coordinated, and where investment is targeted in a strategic manner to get the best value for money.

That's important, because this Government has more than doubled spending on buses to £2.5 billion per year and we want to make the most of that investment and ensure that local transport needs are not considered as an afterthought.

Transport is far too important to be looked at only when a new housing development has been approved or a shopping development has been given the green light. It is integral to the development of our communities, our towns and cities, and the economic competitiveness of the country.

As such, it is vital that we all pull together to make sure that it works as effectively as possible and we work toward
the more sustainable transport future we all want to see on the ground.

The good news is that with the right spirit of cooperation, creativity and professionalism this is a very achievable ambition.