Declan’s policy update:
Transport plays a central role in everyday life, shaping how we work, learn, socialise and access essential services. Yet for many, the system can still feel fragmented and complex.
Better Connected has been launched as the Department for Transport’s long-term vision for domestic transport across England and is being backed with £30bn worth of investment.
It’s a strategy which is underpinned by three guiding principles of People, Place and Partnerships.
Our transport system touches almost every part of daily life. It helps to shape how we work, learn, socialise, and access essential key services.
For many years it has felt fragmented, with differing modes, providers and places. Better Connected is setting out a clear response to this, outlining how transport in England can be made simpler, fairer and more joined up for everyone.
Instead of focusing on individual projects or modes, the strategy looks at how people actually experience travel. Whether commuting across a city, visiting family in a rural area or making shorter everyday journeys, the strategy emphasises that transport should be safe, reliable, affordable and accessible, allowing people to get on with their lives more easily.
The strategy is built around three core principles: putting people at the centre of decision making, using transport to create connected places and working in partnership with local leaders, stakeholders and experts. These principles recognise that transport does not exist in isolation. Transport supports economic growth, improves health, connects people and helps to shape those very places where we live and work.
Better Connected has outlined eight priority areas which will guide policy and investment in the coming years. These priorities will include simplifying payments and information, providing dependable and safe journeys, making travel more affordable and accessible and creating healthier communities.
It is hoped that the priorities will reduce complexity and inequality in the system, whilst improving everyday experiences for users.
What does Better Connected mean for businesses?
Improved transport reliability and better maintained roads will help to reduce costs from delays, missed deliveries and vehicle damage.
There is a greater emphasis on devolution, which means local leaders will have greater influence. Consolidated, longer term funding should help to shape transport around local economic priorities.
Integrated ticketing and simplified fares, coupled with an improved bus network will help to widen the net, when it comes to accessing a potential labour workforce pool, particularly in areas where limited transport connectivity has hindered access to employment opportunities.
A focus on aligning transport with housing and development will be of interest to businesses in the construction, planning and property sectors.
The government has agreed to publish a progress update during this Parliament and will monitor delivery through outcome frameworks aligned with local funding settlements.
The Better-Connected strategy can be viewed through the link:
Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport – GOV.UK
If you have an interest in transport, why not join us for our next Transport forum, which is tasked with exchanging information on transport, infrastructure, automation and modernisation in transport, and road, sea, rail and aviation policy. It also steers Chambers’ representations on transport and receives updates on national transport policy. We meet again on Tuesday 12th May.
Our forums are open to Chamber members and you can book your place here:
