Public consultation for future of Liverpool transport network opens

A 10-week public consultation was launched yesterday, detailing Mayor Steve Rotheram’s blueprint for the future of the Liverpool City Region’s transport network.

The new Local Transport Plan (LTP) will shape the city region’s transport developments until 2040 and is a roadmap to delivering the Mayor’s vision for a London-style integrated transport system that’s fast, clean safe, sustainable and accessible to all.

The consultation begins as the Combined Authority prepares to take back control of the city region’s bus network and just days after £26m funding for a further 50 all-electric buses was announced, bringing the total to more than 100. Within the last year, the city region has also completed the rollout of a £500m fleet of new trains, opened a brand new £80m station at Headbolt Lane, Kirkby, and announced a £96m investment in a new station in the Liverpool Baltic Quarter.

The new Local Transport Plan is the first to cover all six local authority areas and supports the Mayor’s ambition for the Liverpool City Region to be net-zero carbon by 2035.

It proposes big, bold changes designed to help drive future investments on the network until 2040.

Key features include:

Boosting public transport through bus franchising and an enhanced rail network to help people get to school, work, training and to travel for leisure and pleasure.
Improving health and wellbeing of residents by reducing road traffic accidents and pollution and encouraging more people to walk, cycle or wheel.
Ensuring the transport system is climate change resilient and using technology and innovation to drive improvements.

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

“The Local Transport Plan is used to steer future investments into our network with clear aims to support communities and improving transport for everyone while aligning to wider Combined Authority ambitions, for example, achieving net zero emissions by 2035.

“Whether a regular public transport user or not, all residents within the City Region are encouraged to take part in the consultation and have their say. Its purpose is to build a fully integrated London-style transport system, along with better connections to and from the region 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.”

To request a paper survey or a survey in another language please call 0151 332 4339

For anyone keen to take part, the Plan will be open for public consultation between 3 October 2024 until 15 December 2024.

Required under law, the first Local Transport Plan was produced in 2000 with the latest version being the city region’s fourth.

The latest plan’s vision and goals were welcomed during an initial public consultation in 2022.