Coronavirus has strengthened need for sustainable transport

The Campaign for Better Transport has outlined how the transport system can be transformed as part of a recovery programme to create jobs, tackle social exclusion, improve the environment and people’s health, and aid economic recovery.

A new report, Covid-19 Recovery: Renewing the Transport System, calls for a world-leading public transport network with improved connectivity; 100 per cent zero-emission road transport and railway; permanent improvements to sustain greater levels of walking and cycling; and changes to the way transport is paid for, including new means to raise revenue.

In order for the transport system to recover following coronavirus and support the economic recovery, Campaign for Better Transport recommends the government should: require local transport authorities to produce plans linked to future government funding to permanently reshape local transport networks around active travel, shared and public transport; ensure local authorities and bus operators work together to replan bus provision, with better integrated, multi-modal networks; not return to the previous franchises on the railway and place a greater focus on leisure as well as commuter travel and new industry structures with devolution of control to city regions; accelerate the shift to 100 per cent zero-emission road and rail travel; lock in the shift to active travel with permanent infrastructure changes; prioritise infrastructure to support sustainable transport, such as rail reopenings, bus priority and digital systems; and establish new sources of raising revenue such as workplace parking levies and road use charges to support the shift to sustainable transport.

Darren Shirley, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The effect of Covid-19 on transport has been seismic and support from the government has been invaluable in sustaining the sector through the crisis so far. But as the UK begins the process of recovery, the government must now focus its ambition on accelerating the shift to sustainable transport and the delivery of infrastructure improvements that facilitate this to ensure that transport better serves communities across the country.

“By focusing its financial support and policy improvements on public transport, walking and cycling, the government can transform our transport system to facilitate economic growth, meet legal obligations around carbon emissions and air quality, and tackle social exclusion.”

David Renard, Local Government Association transport spokesman, said: “We share this report’s ambition to see improvements to our transport system and a green recovery, which should be a major part of the government’s plans to rebuild the country following coronavirus. Councils are already introducing measures to help communities and high streets transition to our new way of life, including a new way of travelling, such as encouraging walking or cycling.

“We want to work with government to achieve a sustained increase in active and cleaner travel, which will not only improve public health but will reduce congestion and pollution and enable the creation of safe and attractive public transport networks. It was good that the government set out plans last week to invest in infrastructure. We would like this to include giving councils local control over infrastructure and transport budgets, which would enable them to deliver the widespread improvements to promote more active travel.”