Views on draft Strategic Transport Plan invited

Views on a thirteen-week consultation on a draft Strategic Transport Plan for the North are being invited at an event being held at Manchester Airport next Wednesday. 

Senior Transport for the North representatives will be visiting Manchester Airport as part of a dedicated session to outline the plan’s recommendations, advise on what this could mean for Greater Manchester and the surrounding area, and invite questions and feedback that people may have. Further events are taking place in Manchester City Centre on 23 March and in Wigan on 26 March. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Transport for the North’s plan for the future is a vital stepping stone in re-balancing the country’s economy.

“With a world-class airport, and a growing economy, Greater Manchester lies at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse. But if we want to achieve our ambitious plans for jobs, skills and education we desperately need to improve our transport infrastructure across the North.

“This strategic plan sets out how we will be better connected via high speed rail links, much improved road corridors and inclusive and accessible SMART ticketing.

“Transport matters now and in the future and I would urge as many people as possible to provide their comments and thoughts via the consultation that is currently running.”

Barry White, CEO, Transport for the North said: “An incredible amount of work has gone into the production of the draft Strategic Transport Plan including collaboration between the public and private sector across the whole of the North. 

“The plan is underpinned with a robust evidence base making a compelling case for the investment priorities that would transform the economy of the North and the UK as a whole. I’m delighted that we’re now in a position to share this work with the public and invite their questions and comments. This is crucial to ensuring the plan is fit for purpose and meets the needs and aspirations of those who will benefit from improved infrastructure and economic prosperity, the citizens of the North.

“This is first time transport in the North has been looked at on a pan-northern level offering a unique opportunity for everyone to have their say on what matters to them in their areas.  I’d encourage people to attend the event.”

The drop-in consultation is open to everyone and is an opportunity for members of the public to formally submit their feedback on the plan which will be analysed and fed into the final Strategic Transport Plan before its release later in the year.

The event will be held in the Dublin Suite at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport on Wednesday 7 March from 4pm – 7pm.

Event schedule:

4pm – 5pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

5pm – 6pm: Drop-in Q+A

6pm – 7pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

The thirty-year plan, which was released in draft on Tuesday 16 January, is the first of its kind and outlines how transport connections across the North of England need to be transformed by 2050 to drive growth and close the economic gap between the North and the rest of England.

The plan identified seven Strategic Development Corridors, which link important economic centres and where better road and rail connections are needed. These include the West and Wales corridor (which would improve the movement of people and goods between Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool City Region and North Wales, and where priorities may include improved access to Manchester Airport) and the Southern Pennines corridor (which would improve connections from Liverpool across to Hull and the Humber, and where priorities may include significant improvements to road links between Manchester and Sheffield).

It also highlights the important of a pan-Northern smart and integrated ticketing system and of Northern Powerhouse Rail, which would see much faster rail connections between Manchester and Manchester Airport and other major northern cities, including Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield.

Transport for the North’s public consultation runs until 17 April 2018 with similar engagement events taking place across the North. A final version of the plan will be published later in the year and submitted to the Government for ministerial consideration.

Find out more by visiting:

http://www.transportforthenorth.com/stp