UK government creates Mass Transit Taskforce

There are many bureaucratic and financial barriers to establishing mass transit systems in the UK. A Transport & Works Act order can take four years to make its way through the system at a cost of many millions, while construction costs of new systems are way ahead of those achieved by our continental neighbours. Some suggest the Treasury is institutionally-biased against mass transit projects, the benefits of which it argues can be delivered much more cheaply by ordinary buses on the public highway. Now the UK Government has created a Mass Transit Taskforce (MTT) in the Department for Transport to make recommendations to improve transit systems so they can be delivered more efficiently. MTT will look at barriers to delivery of mass transit despite their proven ability to support economic growth, employment and new homes. Experts from planning and industry will be brought together to speed up building of tramways, bus rapid transit and railways. The government is already consulting on new devolved powers to help city and regional mayors introduce mass transit systems. 

 

Working independently, and led by Chair Bridget Rosewell CBE, MTT will draw on best practice from across the world to make recommendations on how systems can be delivered more quickly and efficiently. Other members of MTT include David Milner, Managing Director of Create Streets, Richard de Cani, Chief Officer for Global Business and Markets at consultants Arup, and Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group that will also provide the secretariat for MTT. The first recommendations are due to be published in six months. 

 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said, ‘Mass transit has the potential to transform towns and cities across the country. Creating a better, more integrated transport system will not only support economic growth and new jobs bit will also deliver desperately-needed housing’.