Transport budget on the agenda at briefing

A briefing on transport spending plans for 2014/15 is to take place at Manchester Town Hall next week.

The Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC) is holding its annual budget briefing in the Council Chamber on Tuesday 21 January, from 11am – 1pm.

Greater Manchester residents are welcome to attend the meeting, where leading councillors and directors from TfGM will be available for a question and answer session on the transport budget.

The briefing will be hosted by Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of TfGMC. He said: “Manchester has the fastest growing economy in the UK outside London and transport has a crucial role to play in supporting and sustaining that growth.

“We’ve achieved a great deal over recent years as we deliver the £1.5bn investment in transport infrastructure and services through the Greater Manchester Transport Fund. Equally as important is our day-to-day spending on crucial bus services and concessionary travel.

“As a local government body, we are acutely aware of the need to make ongoing efficiency and cost savings – while at the same time protecting our long-term investment in transport infrastructure.

“Anyone who wants to learn more about the challenges transport faces in the year ahead is welcome to come along to the budget briefing.”

The £1.5 billion Greater Manchester Transport Fund was established in May 2009 to pay for major transport schemes, including the Metrolink expansion programme, bus priority projects, park and ride and new transport interchanges.

In addition, transport spending in Greater Manchester focuses on supporting national and local concessionary travel schemes, funding the provision of socially necessary bus services, and providing improved passenger services and facilities.

TfGMC is a Joint Committee of the Combined Authority and the ten district authorities of Greater Manchester. The transport budget will be considered for approval by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority at the end of January.

To attend the briefing, please email budgetupdate@tfgm.com or telephone 0161 244 1000.