TfN starts work as official transportation body

John Cridland, chair, Transport for the North TfN starts work as formal transport body 5 Apr 2018, 10:40 At Liverpool

's Mann Island, Transportation for the North will this afternoon hold its first meeting as an official body with statutory powers.TfN chairman John Cridland said:" The scale of opportunity and ambition can not be downplayed. For the very first time, suggestions on exactly what and where investment is needed will be agreed by the people that live and work in the North, allowing us to talk with a united voice to main government." It's a watershed minute for devolution and an as soon as in a generation opportunity to provide substantial improvements in the North's transportation network. "Our Strategic Transportation Plan will set the plan for transportation facilities enhancements throughout the next Thirty Years and will permit us to make a strong and constant case for continual investment in the North." The body stemmed as a voluntary partnership in early 2015 and released a Northern Transportation Technique report a year later on. In October 2016 it sent an application for degenerated powers, which were confirmed in November 2017. Barry White, who previously ran BAM PPP UK and the Scottish Futures Trust, was announced as TfN's new primary

executive in autumn in 2015. In February, Tim Wood's position as interim Northern Powerhouse Rail director was made a long-term function, while TfN's draft 30-yesr Tactical Transportation Strategy, on which consultation is continuous until 17 October, was released in January. As well as establishing an overall strategic strategy and supplying a one-voice route to the Secretary of State, TfN's remit implies it will: Coordinate and deliver clever ticketing systems across the North End up being a statutory partner in road and rail financial investment decisions Oversee(jointly with DfT)franchised rail services covering Northern and TransPennine Express franchises Construct new roadways

• , with the contract of Government and relevant highway and local authorities Pick capital grants Partners in TfN consist of the borough councils of Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester and Warrington, along with the county councils of Cumbria and Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester combined authorities.Although there are 3 other nascent sub-national transport bodies, TfN is the very first to take on formal powers.As far as the Institute for Economic Advancement is worried, the tough work starts now, with substantial problems such as Manchester to Sheffield travel time, over-concentration on the M6, M1 and M62 freeway paths and M6 logjams need addressing.IED executive director Nigel Wilcock commented:"We are usually encouraging of those policies and plans which have economic advancement at their core and on this basis invite the approach that has actually been taken in the development of the draft transport strategy." Our concept observation, however, is that the framing of the draft transportation plan might take more of an initiative to be at the heart of some of the UK's present financial policies. The Industrial Strategy is referenced throughout the document however the draft transport plan sets out how its plan' harmonizes 'or' reinforces'the approach-- instead of how such a wide-ranging method might lead on some of the ideas

  worrying movement to capture of the economic dividend from such financial management."Man Lawson, director of the Civil Engineering Professionals'Association North West, stated:" Transfer for the North's accession to statutory status fulfils a long-held CECA policy objective."CECA is an eager supporter of rebalancing the economy. With so much depending on such plans as the upgrade of the Cumbrian coast line, in order to support major civil engineering works prepared at Sellafield, Moorside and West Cumbria Mining, we identify their vital importance to the local economy. "And similar transport schemes throughout the North West, from Crewe to Carlisle and from the Pennines to the sea, can make a real difference to the efficiency

  of the region."Transfer minister Jo Johnson said:"With substantial new powers allowing Transportation for the North to consult with one voice and drive forward crucial tasks, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and clever ticketing, I am confident that TfN will play a critical function in delivering the future of northern

  transport."

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  TfN starts work as formal transport body

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