Burnham makes Manchester “transport revolution” central to second Mayoral term
Recently re-elected Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has made delivering an integrated, affordable and easier to use transport network the centre of plans for his second term.
In making a series of announcements on new transport investments Burnham said, “Across the world, the most successful city-regions have one thing in common – an affordable, integrated and accessible transport network.
“People in Greater Manchester have made clear that they won’t settle for second best any longer – that is why I’m vowing to accelerate the delivery of a world-class transport network for our city-region and its people. It is absolutely critical to our future economic and social prosperity.
“People here deserve a transport network where you can seamlessly travel across our city-region on buses, trams and trains – without spending a fortune each time.”
Burnham is also accelerating the introduction of affordable bus fares. From 1 September, fares for single journeys will be capped at £1 for children and £2 for adults and there will be a new £5 daily ticket giving unlimited travel on all operators.
Subject to agreement with the Government and bus operators, the new fare structure will come in a year earlier than originally planned and apply across the whole of Greater Manchester from day one.
Given the lower post-Covid public transport ridership, the Mayor is calling on people across Greater Manchester to switch to public transport, helping to make the new fare system financially sustainable in the long term.
“My message to the people of our city-region is simple: use public transport and make the most of these affordable fares. Only you can make this sustainable. To make affordable and capped fares permanent, we need people to take the bus. We’re on an exciting journey and we need the whole of the city region to get behind it.
“Franchising our buses, bringing them back under public control, and lowering fares are a key part of creating the London-style transport system that our region needs and deserves.”
Burnham also pledged:
Immediate discussions with Government to seek support for powers and funding to accelerate bus franchising so that all parts of Greater Manchester have better buses, integrated with Metrolink by May 2024 – a year earlier than originally planned
Delivering 95 new Electric Vehicle charging points by the end of this year, with plans for a further 200 charging points next year, in partnership with government
To complete 100km of cycling and walking routes by the end of the year
A new Greater Manchester Bike Hire scheme to launch in November this year, with the preferred delivery partner unveiled in June
Opening negotiations with Network Rail to agree how to make all rail stations in the city-region accessible by 2025, or to give Greater Manchester the funding and power to do it