Transport for Greater Bristol

Transport for Bristol -

The powers a West of England Integrated Transport Authority could have

Most of the following information comes from the PTEG website. It explains the powers, funding and duties of the seven existing Passenger Transport Authorities. It is 7 pages long. Below is a list of the powers and funding we think would be appropriate for our area.

Bus powers

  1. Own and operate bus stations, bus stops and shelters.
  2. Build transport interchanges and associated retail facilities.
  3. Provide comprehensive public transport information in a single website, phone and e services,publish written travel information and timetables.
  4. Introduce multi-modal area tickets and a Smartcard system.
  5. Administer the current concessionary fares schemes and introduce new concessionary schemes to include children, young people, students and job seekers.
  6. Buy and lease buses.
  7. Produce a bus strategy for the whole area.
  8. Use Quality Bus partnerships to include maximum fares, frequencies and timing as well as real time information,quality shelters and lower emission buses as in the past.
  9. Use Quality contract system to introduce a new franchise system operated to the specification of the ITA
  10. Promote and fund bus priority schemes.
  11. Promote and fund innovative new forms of bus services.
  12. Promote Bus Rapid Transit and guided bus schemes.
  13. Liaison with LEAs to provide for school travel and agency arrangements for ITA to provide for statutory and non-statutory children and children with special needs if appropriate.

Rail Powers

  1. Invest in new stations and new track.
  2. Invest in improved facilities including parking for all modes.
  3. Build rail interchanges and associated retail facilities.
  4. Tender services on some local branch lines e.g Severn Beach, Portishead or on whole of local network.
  5. Purchase and lease rolling stock.
  6. Specify service levels and fare levels during franchise discussions.
  7. Be a party and co-signatory to franchise agreements.
  8. Right to be consulted on significant changes for service changes.
  9. Produce statements that specify service levels, quality requirements and fares regulation.

Highways powers

Under the Local Transport Act 2008, ITAs can take on all or some of the highways powers of a Highway Authority. Existing PTAs are not Highway Authorities.
  1. Build, manage and maintain local roads
  2. Signing and traffic regulation including speed limits,public transport priority measures.
  3. Road charging and parking including residents parking(after consultation).
  4. Traffic management including urban control systems, traffic lights and lighting.
  5. Road safety.
  6. Rights of way including cycletracks and footpaths.
  7. Control of development and planning conditions.

Planning and Legal requirements

  1. Must produce an Annual report and an Annual Progress report.(audited by Audit Commission).
  2. Must produce a Joint Local Transport Plan in consultation with the constituent District Councils and an annual progress report.
  3. Must produce an annual Best Value Plan.

Funding

PTE core funding comes from its PTA which negotiates an annual levy with its constituent District Councils on an annual basis. Per capita basis and collected via council tax. ITAs will be funded in the same way.

Special Rail Grant

PTEs currently receive a special grant that approximately covers the full costs of subsidizing their local rail networks in their areas. It is not clear if new ITAs would receive this funding.

Concessionary Fares for Retired people

Existing PTEs receive more favourable funding settlements than local authorities.

Special Borrowing

PTEs have additional powers to borrow to fund capital schemes without Government approval where debt charges are affordable but likely to be of limited use in view of high levels of capital needed for schemes. It is assumed new ITAs will have these powers.

The Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance January 2009