UK: A briefing document setting out the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on public transport authorities has been published by the Urban Transport Group, which represents transport bodies in London, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region.
The briefing looks at what urban transport authorities are doing to keep essential services running whilst protecting their staff, the funding challenges they face as a result, and the support needed from government, particularly for urban rail systems.
It warns that without a funding deal from government, it will become increasingly challenging to maintain essential networks, be ready for the recovery stage and continue to invest for the longer term.
The group says ‘although there is a considerable financial cost associated with dealing with the coronavirus crisis itself, we will also need to continue to invest in urban transport in the future in order to meet wider goals for inclusive economies, carbon reduction, the levelling up agenda and improving air quality. The cost of dealing with this immediate crisis should not mean sacrificing our ability to invest and support the transport policies, programmes and projects which remain essential to addressing these objectives.’
