The UK Government has announced new measures to empower local leaders to join up local transport under its Better Connected strategy.
The suite of policies in the new national transport strategy includes plans to use Google Maps to track rural buses and the expansion of its parking platform to “end car app chaos”, it said.
In addition, it also announced £40m in funding for local authorities to trial digital technologies to improve transport, reduce congestion and ease disruption.
New Local Transport Plan guidance has also been published to assist local authorities with building joined-up transport strategies, and to “make the most of their funding and boosting local growth”, it said. As part of its strategy, it said there would be new powers for contactless payment on travel across transport modes.
The plan also includes a new partnership with Google, allowing passengers across England to track their bus in real time through Google Maps.
Drivers will also benefit from the expansion of the National Parking Platform, allowing them to use any parking app across participating car parks.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“For too long, getting from A to B has been more complicated than it needs to be. People want journeys to be easy and reliable. They want to be able to get off a train and straight on to a bus without having to battle through a confusing system or buy separate tickets for each part of their journey.
“That’s why we’re giving local leaders the powers to build transport networks that are simpler, more accessible and better connected, improving everyday journeys and supporting growth in every corner of the country.”
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:
“The new transport strategy, which includes an ambition to deliver a step change in tap-and-go contactless services for customers, is welcome. The strategy, which has been eagerly anticipated by the sector, builds on the innovative work already underway in devolved areas of the country to deliver better, more joined-up transport networks.
“The strategy will compliment this ongoing work and help to ensure all people across England – from cities to the countryside – are better connected.”
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