On 2nd April, the Department for Transport published Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport (previously known as the Integrated National Transport Strategy). It sets out the Government’s vision for people-focused domestic transport across England, making journeys simpler, more affordable and better integrated together.
Better Connected comes alongside major action on transport across the country, from the creation of Great British Railways, record investment to fix local roads, to faster rollout of EV chargepoints and support for major infrastructure projects that will improve connections and drive growth.
Here are some of the key priorities of the Better Connected strategy:
More contactless, tap-and-go travel across more towns and cities in England, with local leaders given tools to join up buses, trams and trains
The expansion of the National Parking Platform, allowing drivers to use any parking app across participating car parks
A new partnership with Google Maps enabling users to track buses in real time
A ‘Mini Switzerland’ pilot in the Peak District’s Hope Valley, drawing on European best practice to trial improved connections between rural bus and train services in an effort to support local communities and tourism
We asked Women in Transport Chair Jo Field for her comments on the publication of Better Connected:
“Today’s publication of Better Connected is an important moment for creating a transport system that truly works for everyone.
“At Women in Transport, we welcome the strategy’s focus on making every day journeys simpler, more reliable and more joined‑up. Integrated ticketing, better real‑time information and stronger local leadership all have the potential to make transport more accessible and user‑friendly – especially for women and other groups who rely on public transport the most.
“As the strategy moves into delivery, it will be vital to ensure that inclusion, safety and diverse lived experiences remain at the heart of decision‑making. A transport network that is genuinely people‑focused must work for all people.
“We look forward to engaging with the Department for Transport and the wider sector to help turn this ambition into meaningful change.”
You can read the Better Connected strategy in full at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-connected-a-strategy-for-integrated-transport