Greater Manchester takes home top European transport strategy award

Nicola Kane, TfGM’s Head of Strategic Planning and Research (second from left), Raf Cuesta, TfGM’s Head of Development and Innovation (centre), Cllr Mark Aldred, TfGM’s Chair (second from right)

Greater Manchester has scooped an award in recognition of its sustainable transport strategy.

Awarded by the European Commission as part of European Mobility Week, the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) award is presented to city-regions that can demonstrate innovate and effective transport planning.

This year’s award focussed on good practice in planning for multimodal travel. Greater Manchester received the award for its 'excellent spatial approach'. The jury also noted the 'ambitious modal share goals' and 'integration of new technology.'

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)’s chair, Councillor Mark Aldred, accepted the award at a ceremony in Brussels on Thursday night. Greater Manchester was shortlisted for the award against Basel (Switzerland) and Dresden (Germany).

Councillor Aldred said: “This award is a welcome recognition of the hard work our city-region has put into delivering an ambitious transport strategy that is focussed on the needs of real people.

“Greater Manchester is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic economies in the UK. As we attract more jobs and people, as well as building more houses and business hubs, we will need to ensure that our transport network can meet the increased demand and become even more accessible, integrated and environmentally friendly.

“The jury credited both our great track record in delivering high-quality transport infrastructure and our clear plans for harnessing the potential of new technology. Everyone at TfGM is determined to ensure that our future plans become a reality for everyone in our city-region.”

Simon Warburton, TfGM’s Strategy Director, said: “Our vision for Greater Manchester is that by 2040 half of all journeys in the city-region will be made by walking, cycling and public transport. This will mean less congestion on our roads, less pollution in our air, a boost for our health, and more attractive towns and neighbourhoods where people want to live and work.

“To get there we have developed a clear set of policies in our 2040 Transport Strategy and our five-year Delivery Plan that will provide new capacity on our public transport system and, crucially, that will better integrate services. This award, from an international panel of experts, is a welcome recognition that we are planning right for the future.”