Blueprint for the future of public transport network in the spotlight

• Proposals are a blueprint for delivering the Mayor’s vision for an integrated, zero carbon transport system
• Cycling, walking and wheeling feature strongly to create a more attractive, liveable, productive and safe city region
• Further public consultation planned

A blueprint for the future of the public transport network supported by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram will be considered this week.

Set to go before the Combined Authority today, the new plan is designed to help drive future improvements to the city region transport network until 2040 and includes the city region’s six local authority areas for the first time.

With a clear vision, goals and set of policies, the proposed plan provides a blueprint for making the transport network safer, more integrated, more attractive, sustainable and accessible to all – which are the key pillars of Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram’s vision for a London style transport system.

Its role is to guide future investments designed to continue to support communities and improving transport for everyone while aligning to wider Combined Authority ambitions, for example, achieving net zero emissions by 2035.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“The Local Transport Plan is about making sure we grow our public transport system, supported by franchised bus services and a greatly enhanced rail network, that helps people get to school, work, training and travel for leisure and pleasure. Improving the health and quality of life for people and communities as well as ensuring the network and assets are well maintained are key to its success.

“We’re building from a strong position, fortified by significant achievements including our new state of the art trains, a new station at Headbolt Lane and active travel routes, together with franchised bus services and a new Mersey Ferry on the horizon.

“Delivering the priorities in this plan would enable us to build a fully integrated London-style transport system, along with better connections to and from the region.”

The LTP4 five goals are:

• Support good, clean job growth
• Achieve net zero carbon and an improved environment
• Improve health and quality of life
• Transport that’s well maintained and tough
• Plan and respond to uncertainty and change and be innovative

An in initial public consultation on the vision and goals took place in 2022 and which welcomed the aims of the draft plan. Subject to Combined Authority approval, the latest plans will be shared for open consultation from early October 2024.

Further information on the public consultation, including the launch date, will be available in coming weeks.

The Local Transport Act 2008 requires the LCRCA, as the local transport authority, to produce an LTP.  The legislation requires that LTPs contain policies and implementation plans for the delivery of their policies.  Subject to final approval, LTP4 would replace existing plans published in 2011.