Transport for the North to receive statutory powers and duties

Plans to transform Transport for The North (TfN) into the first ever statutory sub-national transport body, with legal powers and duties, have been proposed in Parliament.

TfN, backed with up to £260m of government funding, aims to provide the infrastructure needed to drive economic growth and create jobs and boost skills.

The move to put TfN on a statutory footing means that from April, TfN will get powers to: produce a statutory transport strategy for the North which the government must formally consider when taking funding decisions; fund organisations to deliver transport projects; work with local authorities to fund, promote and deliver road schemes – and be consulted on rail franchises in the North; take forward smart ticketing.

The Department for Transport also confirmed £18.5m from a £150m government fund for TfN’s smart ticketing programme. TfN will use this to introduce paperless, smart card season tickets for Northern and TransPennine Express and Merseyrail passengers by the end of 2018.

The remaining funding is available for proposals to extend smart ticketing across public transport in the North, giving passengers more flexibility and a better integrated travel experience, including the ability to renew tickets online, fewer queues at stations and faster journeys through ticket barriers.

Nasar Malik, director at professional services and engineering consultancy, WSP, in Leeds , said: “This announcement will give us the decision-making powers to get the spades in the ground and create the infrastructure network the north needs to make the powerhouse a reality.”

Chairman of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Gerald Jennings, said: “The powers being given to TfN will help re-affirm that commitment, and help to drive economic growth across the North. TfN will bring a more strategic approach to pan-Northern infrastructure, able to identify and prioritise those investments that will bring the greatest economic benefit. More importantly, the thinking going into these strategies will be based on strong local knowledge, rather than views from Whitehall.”

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “We are committed to the Northern Powerhouse, and to giving the great towns and cities of the North more say over transport investment through their umbrella body TfN. This government is investing the most cash for a generation in transport projects for the North.

“These new powers will give TfN far greater influence over national infrastructure decisions, as well the certainty they need to plan and drive forward projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and smart ticketing.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry said: “We are investing a record £13 billion in transport in the North of England – more than any government in history. As part of this, TfN will be a game-changer, with powers to speak with one voice on northern transport projects and drive forward ambitious plans to improve transport connections and unlock economic growth across the Northern Powerhouse.”

Independent Chair of TfN John Cridland said: “TfN gaining statutory status is an important step towards transforming the North of England and giving it the voice and powers it needs to move forward. To have the statutory instrument laid before Parliament is a tremendous achievement, having secured the support of 56 local authorities including all 19 of our constituent authorities. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to transform the region’s infrastructure and grow the UK economy.

Becoming a sub-national transport body means that the Secretary of State of the day will take into account the North’s priorities when making transport infrastructure investment.

A draft strategic transport plan will be published for public consultation early next year. This is a 30-year transport strategy for the North that Tf N believes will help drive economic growth in the region and help to re-balance the UK economy.

Rail North, an association of local authorities – including all the TfN members and Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent will also formally become part of TfN and work with government to co-manage the Northern and Transpennine Express rail franchises.

As part of the government’s devolution agenda the North has been given autonomy to run transport through bodies like Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) / Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus) in large urban areas.

Local authorities, mayors and combined authorities already have responsibility for running transport in rural areas, town and cities and will continue to do so.

After being approved in Parliament, the legislation will be made into law by the end of the year or shortly afterwards depending on legislative time. TfN will become a statutory body on 1 April 2018.

TfN is a partnership of 19 local authorities, business leaders and 11 local enterprise partnership areas from across the North. It will help determine the top priorities for transport in the area and work with government to ensure these are taken into account in decisions made by the Transport Secretary.

The government has confirmed £150m is available to TfN for smart ticketing, £60m for Northern Powerhouse Rail and £50m to run TfN, ; a total of up to £260 m.

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