A view from Manchester…

With 2.7 million residents, Greater Manchester is a city region at the heart of the North. Home to the longest established Combined Authority in the UK, the conurbation has historically been a centre of excellence for manufacturing and industry, and is now thriving as an area rich with cultural and economic opportunity.

However, like any other area experiencing economic and population growth, we’re facing significant challenges. Challenges such as congestion, improving air quality and health and well-being within the city region. Building on our experience in long-term infrastructure investment in the Metrolink network, our recent work exploring bus service reform, and our strong base at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse, Greater Manchester is using these challenges to explore and implement new opportunities that facilitate integrated and accessible mobility solutions.

We’re already within the top 20% of the largest city region economies in the EU, and our economic potential currently exceeds that of any other UK city region. We’re working to exploit this potential through consistent, long term investments in Greater Manchester’s transport network. With key links to international markets through an airport which carries over 22 million passengers per year to over 200 destinations, along with over 7 million residents within an hour’s drive of the regional centre, we are in a prime location with a track record of transformation and delivery.

Having recently installed over 300 electric vehicle charging points across the city region, and through investments in our Velocity programme, an agenda that aims to increase cycling by 300% in the city region by 2025, Greater Manchester is enabling its residents to make sustainable transport choices in their commutes and social activities.

These opportunities are backed up by a soon to be released strategy for the next 25 years that puts the customer at the heart of public transport. Through the release of the 2040 Vision last year, which informed consumers and stakeholders, and also allowed them to feedback to us, Greater Manchester is forming an ambitious strategy to take the city region forward to 2040.

Connected neighbourhoods, integrated transport, smart travel options and increased access to employment and educational opportunities are all key aspirations. The 2040 Vision represented a radically different approach to transport facilitation, and the strategy maintains this progressive attitude to delivering economic growth, a better environment and improved quality of life for all our citizens. For more information about the “Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040: Our vision”.

Contact details:
Rafael Cuesta, Head of Innovation at Transport for Greater Manchester
Nicola Kane, Transport Strategy Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester