The longer-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic for the
UK’s public transport are to be examined by the Transport
Committee.
From the first weeks of lockdown, the Transport Committee has
charted the impact of Covid-19 on the UK’s key transport sectors.
Transport workers, stakeholders, mayors and ministers working in
aviation, local transport, freight and maritime described the
immediate pressures they faced during an unprecedented period of
profound upheaval.
As plummeting passenger demand threatened the financial viability
of many operators, the UK Government provided billions of pounds
of public subsidies for bus and train operators, light rail and
tram systems. Additional funding was provided to boost cycling
and walking.
The actions of central and local government in response to the
crisis could, and perhaps should, influence how people choose how
to travel in the longer term. As more people work from home, shop
online and choose to walk, cycle or drive, policy makers will
need to reimagine how the transport system works. It also
presents a chance to explore reforms and technological
innovations that may shape the future of transport in the UK and
beyond.
This new inquiry will take a holistic look at how public
transport is changing and the implications for current government
strategies including the Williams Rail Review, bus strategy,
walking and cycling, taxis and private hire vehicles.
The pandemic could prove a unique opportunity to build a better,
more sustainable transport system, which helps to meet the
Government’s target to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions
by 2050. The Transport Committee is one of the six commissioning
select committees of Climate Assembly UK, which will publish its
full report in September.
Call for evidence
The Committee welcomes written evidence on the extent that the
coronavirus pandemic could, and should, be used as an opportunity
to reform public transport for the longer-term.
We are particularly interested in the long-term implications of
the pandemic for:
· the use of public transport and the way that people choose to
travel, both locally and for longer domestic journeys;
· central and local governmental transport priorities and
finances and funding for transport;
· the devolution of transport policy-making responsibilities and
powers;
· the resilience of the transport system for future crises;
· the decarbonisation of transport and the capability to meet net
zero carbon emissions targets by 2050;
· innovation and technological reform within transport.
International travel is not included within the remit of this
inquiry.
We will also be looking to see how governments and transport
authorities in other countries are responding to similar
challenges.
The deadline for submission is Thursday 24 September 2020.
