Prince is new director at Urban Transport Group

Urban Transport Group’s new director is Jason Prince, taking over from Jonathan Bray, who stepped down earlier this month after 15 years in the role. 

Prince will join UTG, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities, in July 2023. Until then Rebecca Fuller, assistant director of the Urban Transport Group, will act as interim director.  

Prince is currently head of public affairs for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), where he has worked for more than three years, before which he spent four years at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

During his roles at the GMCA and TfGM, Priince was involved in several key projects, including working with partners on buses, specifically the Bus Services Act (2017), supporting the early development of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network and rail projects including HS2, and more recently on innovation and devolution.

Prior to these positions, he worked for a Member of Parliament, supporting on key policy areas of transport and energy.

Jason Prince said: “These are tough times for urban and local transport, but by harnessing the expertise of our members, we can meet these challenges head on. The Urban Transport Group is perfectly placed to develop the right policies and to provide the right solutions that will help our local places thrive.

“I look forward to working closely with our partners and friends to deliver good transport for our communities.”

Steve Warrener, chair of the Urban Transport Group and managing director of Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Jason will be coming on board at a very challenging time for urban transport, with the cost-of-living crisis, the aftermath of the COVID pandemic and the climate emergency all making for a difficult operating landscape for our member transport authorities. 

“I am very confident that Jason - who brings a wealth of policy knowledge, political expertise and transport experience - is the right person to lead the Urban Transport Group and its members through what will undoubtedly be a challenging but exciting new chapter for both the organisation and urban public transport more widely.

“On behalf of the entire Board, I’d like to once again thank former Director Jonathan Bray for his hard work in making the Urban Transport Group the highly respected organisation it is today.”