Better Transport

It’s important to recognise that buses are a very local issue and they are dealt with locally, by local transport authorities. However, the Department for Transport provides guidance and financial support to these authorities so it is useful to understand its role as well.

The department makes policies

The Department for Transport makes national policy decisions about transport; in addition to buses and coaches, it covers cycling, walking, rail, light rail, ferries, roads and aviation. The Department for Transport ensures that local transport authorities in England produce local transport plans, accessibility studies and bus strategies. In Wales, the Welsh Assembly makes sure that local authorities do these things.

To encourage people to use buses, the department works with local transport authorities:

• Creating ‘shared priorities’ in terms of increasing accessibility, reducing congestion, reducing pollution and increasing road safety
• Providing funding
• Overseeing local transport authorities transport planning and provision for buses through Local Transport Plans, accessibility studies of transport needs and bus strategies

The department has objectives and targets 

The Department for Transport has four objectives:

1. To sustain economic growth and improved productivity through reliable and efficient transport networks
2. To improve the environmental performance of transport
3. To strengthen the safety and security of transport
4. To enhance access to jobs, services and social networks, including for the most disadvantaged

The Department also has a set of Public Service Agreement targets (PSA targets) which include the following targets that are relevant for buses.

PSA 3. By 2010, increase the use of public transport (bus and light rail) by more than 12% in England compared with 2000 levels, with growth in every region.

Local transport plans include targets for bus patronage, and these contribute to the national PSA target. The Government encourages local authorities to aim for high growth by rewarding ambitious local authorities through the appraisal and funding process.

PSA 4. By 2010-11, the 10 largest urban areas are to meet the congestion targets set in their Local Transport Plan relating to movement on main roads into city centres.

PSA 5. Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in Great Britain in road accidents by 40 per cent and the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent, by 2010 compared with the average for 1994-98, tackling the significantly higher incidence in disadvantaged communities.

PSA 6. Improve air quality by meeting the Air Quality Strategy targets for carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles, sulphur dioxide, benzene and 1,3 butadene. Joint target with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

PSA 7. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels in line with our Kyoto commitment and move towards a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010, through measures including energy efficiency and renewables. Joint target with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry.

More about the department’s targets for transport