Transport


What will the car-free cities of the future look like? 19/05/2020 Ben Mercer explores what car-free cities could look like and how will these policies will change our city-centre commutes.
Government announces £250m emergency active travel fund 11/05/2020 The Government has announced the largest ever funding boost to create a ‘new era’ for cycling and walking.
A greener future? 01/05/2020 Steven Meersman warns that transitioning to net-zero must continue to be a priority despite Covid-19.
MPs launch inquiry into use of electric scooters 22/04/2020 An inquiry looking at the safety and legal implications of e-scooters has been launched by the Transport Committee.
Councils welcome £400m funding boost for bus services 03/04/2020 The Government has pledged nearly £400m funding to help keep bus services running during the coronavirus pandemic.
Councils warn bus services could collapse as a result of coronavirus 31/03/2020 Council chiefs have called on the Government to provide emergency funding to ensure bus services do not go bust during the coronavirus epidemic.
NIC launches future of rail consultation 26/03/2020 The National Infrastructure Commission has launched a consultation on the future rail landscape of the North and the Midlands as part of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Welsh councils get new powers to reshape bus services 17/03/2020 Councils in Wales will be given new powers to run their own bus companies and franchise bus services on routes.
London council launches ‘Electric Avenue, W9’ 17/03/2020 Westminster CC has joined Siemens in order to deliver the UK’s first avenue that has been fully converted to provide lamppost electric vehicle charging points.
Shapps announces £90m tech fund to make journeys ‘greener’ 16/03/2020 The Government has launched a multi-million pound fund to trial new technology aimed at making journeys ‘easier, smarter and greener’.
Budget 2020: Mayoral authorities win big in transport 11/03/2020 The Government has unveiled £4.2bn for urban transport as part of its spring budget giveaways.
Over £30bn annual investment needed to reach net zero by 2050 09/03/2020 An estimated £33bn of investment is needed every year for the next three decades if the Government is to meet its carbon emissions target of net zero by 2050.
Council chiefs call for ‘stable, devolved’ infrastructure budgets 06/03/2020 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to provide all councils with ‘stable, devolved infrastructure and public transport budgets.’
Islington Council launches ‘revolutionary’ energy centre 05/03/2020 Islington Council today launched an energy centre which converts waste heat from the London underground into heating for homes, schools and leisure centres.
Flybe collapse hits council-owned airports 05/03/2020 The airline entered administration this morning, leading to the grounding of all flights.
The road to an electric bus fleet 04/03/2020 Jonathan Bassett argues an 'all-electric bus town' presents an opportunity not to be missed for local authorities.
Public is ‘supportive’ of plans to invest in cycling, study shows 04/03/2020 Over half of residents in major urban areas across the UK support more investment in cycling, new research reveals.
TV presenter launches legal challenge against ‘vanity project’ HS2 04/03/2020 The TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham has launched a legal challenge against HS2 in order to stop the ‘largest deforestation project’ since WWI.
Council chiefs warn of ‘chronic need’ for bridge repair funding 02/03/2020 Local leaders have said there is a ‘chronic need’ for investment in local roads in response to a report on the number of substandard road bridges in Britain.
Councils awarded share of £93m fund to repair potholes 02/03/2020 Local authorities are to be awarded a share of a multi-million pound funding pot to repair roads and bridges, the Government has announced.
Councils spend average of £2 per head on cycling infrastructure, study reveals 26/02/2020 Local authorities have spent on average just £2 per head of population per year on cycling infrastructure over the last ten years, new research reveals.
Council ‘surprised’ by criticisms of its SEND transport policy 25/02/2020 A council has expressed surprise at a ruling by the local government Ombudsman which criticised its transport policy for adult learners with special educational needs (SEND).
London Councils drives forward co-ordinated approach to car clubs 20/02/2020 London Councils has launched a new online resource to help boroughs take a more co-ordinated approach to car clubs.
Councils set out joint vision for £100m transport transformation 18/02/2020 Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have submitted a bid for over £100m funding to enhance transport links between the two cities.
The balancing act: reducing emissions and improving transportation 17/02/2020 Paul Moorby outlines how using Big Data to analyse real-time traffic information can help councils to refine traffic management policies whilst reducing carbon emissions.
Short-term approach to funding urban transport networks ‘inefficient’ 12/02/2020 A transport group has warned that the ‘excessive reliance’ on short-term competition funding for transforming urban transport networks is ‘inefficient’.
Council chiefs call for ‘urgent’ consultation on post-Brexit trade checks 11/02/2020 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to ensure that port authorities have the resources and capacities needed to carry out checks on EU goods.
Ministers announce £5bn cycle and bus fund 11/02/2020 PM pledges £5bn, five-year bus and cycling fund to support simpler fares, thousands of buses, higher service frequencies, and 250 miles of cycle paths.
Green energy - the linchpin of EV success 11/02/2020 Thomas Newby explains why green energy is the linchpin of electric vehicles success for local government.
Plans outlined for Britain’s first all-electric bus town 06/02/2020 One local authority is set to receive £50m to become Britain’s first all-electric bus town.
Brighton considers becoming a ‘car-free’ city 28/01/2020 Brighton & Hove City councillors have agreed to look into the possibility of the city becoming ‘car-free’ by 2023.
Leeds council launches electric vehicle trial 24/01/2020 Leeds City Council has launched a new scheme giving businesses, organisations and charities in West Yorkshire the opportunity to drive electric vans free of charge for up to two months.
Funding doubles for residential charge points 21/01/2020 Funding for on-street charge points has been doubled to help end the ‘postcode lottery’ for the uptake of electric vehicles.
Council chiefs call for help with £700m gap in bus fare scheme 20/01/2020 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to help them support bus routes as the distance local buses travel drops to lowest level since mid-1980s.
Councils warned to cover foster carers’ school transport costs 17/01/2020 Councils have been reminded by the local government ombudsman that they should be providing financial support to foster parents to pay for school transport.
Whitehall announces £3.4m investment in wireless charging tech 17/01/2020 The Government has announced that it is investing £3.4m in wireless charging technology trials at taxi ranks in Nottingham.
Medway caves after Ombudsman rap 16/01/2020 Medway Council has finally accepted the recommendations in a Local Government Ombudsman public interest report after a two-year stand-off.
Hydrogen for transport 16/01/2020 Mark Griffin explains why Aberdeen City Council has introduced a fleet of hydrogen fuelled buses to help reduce emissions.
Islington Council launches electric vehicle charging partnership 16/01/2020 An electric vehicle charging partnership with Islington Council was launched yesterday as part of the London borough’s push to reduce harmful air pollution.
HS2 based on false prospectus, Berkeley claims 06/01/2020 HS2 will cost at least £107bn to complete and its business case is based on unrealistic claims about how many trains could run on the new line, according to the former deputy chair of the Government’s review into the scheme.
Council aims to make York city centre ‘car free’ 02/01/2020 York city centre could become a ‘car free’ zone as part of a council effort to make the city carbon neutral by 2030.
Charity calls for devolution to end ‘nightmare rail journeys’ 02/01/2020 A charity has called for a radical overhaul of the UK’s rail services including giving city authorities more control over the management of regional networks.
Over 12,000 Blue Badges granted to people with ‘hidden disabilities’ 02/01/2020 Thousands of people with hidden disabilities have benefitted from the Government’s extended Blue Badge scheme, new figures reveal.
Council chiefs warn of ‘bogus' Christmas taxi drivers 20/12/2019 Local authority leaders have warned revellers of the dangers of unlicensed rogue drivers around Christmas time.
West Midlands bus passenger numbers ‘rocket’ by eight million 19/12/2019 The number of people catching the bus in the West Midlands has increased by almost eight million over the last year thanks to major investment in the network.
Welsh government commits £74m to ‘green transport network’ 19/12/2019 The Welsh government has committed to investing £74m into initiatives aimed at building a ‘clean, green transport network’.
Siemens launches 'great model' for EV charging network 17/12/2019 Siemens Mobility has announced a partnership to deliver a series of charging hubs and more than 120 electric vehicle connections across the West of England.
City of London Corporation launches UK’s first 24/7 zero emission street 17/12/2019 A busy thoroughfare in the City of London is set to become the UK’s first street where polluting vehicles are banned all year round.
Warrington council opens £20.5m railway station 17/12/2019 Warrington Borough Council has announced the official opening of the town’s new multi-million pound railway station.
In a nutshell: What the election result means for local government 13/12/2019 With the Conservative party securing its biggest majority since the 1980s, what does this mean for local government?
‘Vast majority’ of council vehicles run on diesel despite pollution concerns 11/12/2019 Over 90% of vehicles operated by local authorities run on diesel despite council efforts to tackle air pollution, new research has revealed.
Measuring the true value of community transport 11/12/2019 ECT Charity explains why community transport is worth its weight in savings.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2019 10/12/2019 From calls to a 10% pay rise for council staff to declaring a climate change emergency, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2019.
Cycling key to stopping plastic polluting the ocean, charity says 10/12/2019 A charity has called on the next Government to invest more into the promotion of cycling and walking as part of the effort to prevent plastic polluting the ocean.
It’s party time 05/12/2019 Paul Marinko tries to help the sector navigate the web of policy commitments for local government on offer after 12 December.
Khan urged to make transport ‘fairer’ for Londoners on low incomes 04/12/2019 A think tank has called on Mayor Khan to make public transport more affordable for lower-income residents in London.
Uber loses licence to operate in London 25/11/2019 Transport for London (TfL) has ruled against granting Uber a new private hire operator’s licence, deeming it to 'not be fit and proper' to hold one.
Cities can address climate crisis by ‘joining the dots’ between sectors 14/11/2019 Cities can help protect the environment by linking up their policies on transport, energy and the built environment, according to campaigners.
Councils warn about spiralling cost of free school transport 04/11/2019 Councils will be spending £1.2bn on providing free school transport by 2024, new research has found.
Outdated taxi laws putting public at risk, councils warn 01/11/2019 The Government has been urged to reform 'outdated and flawed' taxi laws by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Birmingham CC welcomes extension of injunction banning ‘street cruising’ 31/10/2019 A court has agreed to extend an injunction banning street cruising from the roads of Birmingham for another three years, the city council has confirmed.
Khan launches ‘world-leading’ scheme to get dangerous lorries off the road 30/10/2019 The mayor of London has launched a scheme to remove ‘the most dangerous’ Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) from the capital’s streets.
Bristol council considers banning diesel vehicles 30/10/2019 Bristol City Council is considering banning diesel vehicles in what it claims will be the quickest way to reduce nitrogen dioxide in the air.
Reading to ditch polluting Hackney Carriages 25/10/2019 Older black cabs in Reading are set to be replaced with low emission vehicles as part of the council’s effort to make the city carbon neutral.
Funding for buses cut by 40% in last decade 25/10/2019 Local authority funding for buses in England has fallen by more than 40% in the past decade, new figures have revealed today.
Charity calls for ‘whole Government approach’ to health of young people 16/10/2019 Whitehall should transform its policies across housing, transport and education in order to secure the future health of today’s young people, charity says.
North and Midlands ‘must take control’ of HS2, report says 16/10/2019 A review of HS2 has warned against stopping work on the high-speed network and insisted that the North and Midlands ‘must take control’ of the project.
Queen's Speech 19: Whitehall unveils major infrastructure and rail plans 14/10/2019 The Queen's Speech pledges infrastructure strategy, aviation bill and proposals for rail reform.
Study uncovers six factors driving bus use 09/10/2019 New research has revealed the underlying factors that best predict levels of bus use in local areas.
Greater Manchester first to consult on bus franchising 09/10/2019 Greater Manchester is set to become the first city-region in the UK to hold a public consultation on the introduction of a bus franchising scheme.
Not so fast - HS2 could be cut at both ends 07/10/2019 Council leaders in West Yorkshire have warned of ‘grave consequences’ after it was reported that the leg of HS2 from the Midlands to Leeds could be axed.
Ministers promise a national bus strategy 30/09/2019 A new Government bus strategy backed with an initial £220m will see local authorities pilot schemes to boost electric take-up and low fares, as well as more London-style franchising powers.
Welsh councils to receive over £400,000 for electric charge points 26/09/2019 Nine local authorities in Wales are set to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding from Whitehall to install electric vehicle charge points.
Bus use falls to lowest level in a decade 25/09/2019 Councils have renewed calls to be given more say in how bus services are run after the latest figures showing the number of people using them at their lowest level for a decade.
Uber granted two month licence 24/09/2019 Transport for London (TfL) has issued Uber with a two-month private hire operator licence after previously trying to oust to ride hailing app from its network.
Council chiefs call for devolution process to be ‘reignited’ 20/09/2019 The Government must 'reignite the devolution process' to give all parts of England more powers and funding, council leaders have demanded.
Health chiefs recommend new air pollution curbs 19/09/2019 Environment and public health chiefs have made a raft of recommendations to tackle air pollution in London, including new local measures to reduce car use.
Oxfordshire councils launch ‘bold’ plans for tackling congestion 19/09/2019 Local authorities in Oxfordshire have announced new plans for reducing congestion on all major routes into Oxford.
Councils urged to apply for £120,000 local road fund 17/09/2019 Local authorities are today being urged to apply for a new grant fund aimed at improving the safety of local roads.
Woodland clearances for HS2 temporarily halted 16/09/2019 The Government has called a temporary and conditional halt to the removal of ancient woodlands for HS2 while the high speed train programme is reviewed.
Council chiefs call for control over bus services 16/09/2019 Councils must be allowed to control bus services in their areas, according to local government leaders.
PM urged to invest over £45m in the Midlands rail network 12/09/2019 The Prime Minister has been urged to get behind a multi-billion pound plan to ‘supercharge’ the Midland’s economy by reforming its rail network.
HS2 proposals could bring £1.4bn of benefits, Midlands transport body says 09/09/2019 New plans submitted to the review of the controversial HS2 scheme propose directly connecting the city centres of Birmingham and Nottingham and Leicester and Leeds with high speed trains.
100 places chosen to develop new town deals 06/09/2019 Towns across England have been invited to develop proposals for new multi-million pound Town Deals.
Spending Round 19: Javid promises an 'infrastructure revolution' 04/09/2019 Chancellor Sajid Javid used his first Sending Round to call for an 'infrastructure revolution' and promise a national strategy by 'the autumn'.
Council leaders calls for green light on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail 03/09/2019 Council leaders have joined a new campaign to ensure the Government goes ahead with HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
Northern leaders to review controversial HS2 scheme 27/08/2019 The Northern Powerhouse Partnership will hold a review into HS2 to ensure the North is ‘properly heard’ in the Government-commissioned review of the scheme.
Whitehall warned not to ‘scrap’ HS2 as review announced 21/08/2019 The Government has announced an independent review into ‘whether and how’ the HS2 programme should proceed.
TfN submits £700m proposals for National Roads Fund 21/08/2019 Transport for the North has submitted £700m bids to the National Roads Fund, including 12 schemes for the major road network and four for large local majors.
Council services ‘declining’ due to £5bn funding gap, MPs say 21/08/2019 MPs have accused the Government of being ‘derelict in its duty’ by failing to set out a funding settlement that would ease the pressure on frontline services.
London set for three times more transport investment than North 19/08/2019 London is in line for almost three times more transport investment per person than the North of England, according to IPPR North.
Council chiefs call for billions to fix North’s ‘creaking infrastructure’ 15/08/2019 Leaders from across the North have today called on the Government to commit to multi-billion pound infrastructure pledges that would boost the region’s economic fortunes.
Council proposes £120m scheme to upgrade Liverpool’s ‘flawed’ junction 15/08/2019 Liverpool City Council has submitted proposals to the Government outlining its plans to radically redesign one of the city’s major junctions as part of a wider bid to boost transport in the North.
Two Black Country stations to reopen thanks to £10m grant 06/08/2019 Two stations are to be reopened in the Black Country thanks to a £10m Government grant after being closed for nearly half a century.
Combined authority to pilot 'Uber-style' bus service 26/07/2019 Plans to pilot a ‘demand-responsive’ bus service across Tees Valley have been approved.
London Assembly reminds PM of past promises 25/07/2019 The London Assembly has written to the new PM urging him to continue opposing Heathrow expansion and calling on him to support moves to tackle domestic abuse.
MPs call for dedicated funding for active travel 23/07/2019 MPs have criticised the Government for inadequate and ‘piecemeal’ active travel investment and called for a dedicated funding stream for local walking and cycling.
Grayling warned £350m local roads fund is ‘not enough’ 22/07/2019 Council chiefs have told the Government a recently announced £350m funding boost to help improve local roads is not an alternative to long-term investment.
Whitehall announces nearly £40m electric chargepoint investment 09/07/2019 The Government has announced it is investing £37m to transform electric chargepoint infrastructure.
Funding cuts could have paid for eight million pothole repairs, council chiefs say 08/07/2019 Council leaders have called for more cash after calculating money cut from road funding budgets over the last decade could have fixed millions of potholes.

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This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.

The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.