What future for local transport in an age of rapid change?

Setting an agenda for transport to serve a local or regional area and its economic, social, environmental and community needs has always been a challenge, but now even more so. Do traditional transport planning approaches fit the modern context of politics and public debate, and if not, how should we approach this task? Peter Stonham looks at the issues that will be under discussion at the forthcoming second Local Transport Summit and by its host location, Greater Manchester.

by Peter Stonham

27 October 2017

Manchester`s Metrolink Tram

Nicola Kane, Head of Strategic Planning & Research, Transport for Greater Manchester

Neil Chadwick sees the need for change to the processes for local transport decision making

Keith Mitchell, also sees that need for changes in the decision making and assessment, but much will depend on the views of politicians, such as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham

Local transport has long held an important place on the political agenda, though it moves up and down the rankings as other challenges and issues assert their own significance. Global level matters like Brexit, terrorism and international conflicts apart, there are things with a degree of equivalence in the political landscape – the NHS, education, policing and social welfare, for example – jockeying for position with congestion, the state of the roads (or railways), cycling,...