New transport strategy

highlights support for rural areas

ACRE has welcomed the government’s new integrated national transport strategy.

Published on 2 April, Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport not only outlines the government’s plans for improving travel across the country as whole, but also looks at what needs to be done to improve how people get around in rural areas.

Many of the proposals, including improvements in through ticketing, better integration across transport modes and wider access to real-time information on bus locations and timings, could be of value to rural transport users, if properly implemented and resourced by transport authorities.

Patrick Mahon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “The lack of reliable, affordable public transport in rural areas is a widespread problem which impacts on those in greatest need and holds back economic growth.

“The strategy has the potential to deliver a step change for rural transport users, and ACRE looks forward to working with central and local government to ensure that this potential is delivered in practice.”

Find out more, and read the strategy in full, at www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-connected-a-strategy-for-integrated-transport.