In LTT magazine, LTT889, available for subscribers to access.

We are pleased to advise you, as a subscriber, that our latest issue, LTT889, has just been published and is available for you to access. A continuing flurry of policy proposals, announcements, and decisions has kept us busy in bringing you the best news coverage and insights available on local transport issues.

Amongst these are a new Government consultation on amending transport project planning and appraisal processes to embrace to build in resilience against climate change impacts, and a considerable provision in the new Network Rail spending plans to this end. There has also been approval of the new NNNPS statement, revised guidance on bus franchising, and other published advice and insight on matters including micro-mobility safety and involving people locally in shaping local transport policies.

Also newly published and covered in this issue is a review of project management and scheme sponsorship lessons from the delivery of Crossrail. This will be one element of an event LTT is delighted to be holding in partnership with Transport for London on May 8th at the London Transport Museum, which will take a detailed look at the transformational impacts of the Elizabeth Line and how the outcomes can benefit other major schemes aiming to achieve similar significant transport change. LTT readers have priority booking status for this event which can be accessed here (https://www.landorlinks.uk/elizabeth-line).

This issue also covers a range of further local transport topics from rural public transport provision to active travel and strategic rail development, with ambitious new schemes in both Cornwall and Cardiff. We have more reaction to the raft of local traffic and transport guidance documents issued just before Easter, and a look at some of the issues that are shaping the forthcoming local council and mayoral elections next month. We also report some first thoughts from the new Welsh Government transport minister, Ken Skates, who has now succeeded Lee Waters.

Our topics for special analysis by our expert contributors include the movement of lorries, vans and their contents in a review of the latest freight transport data by John Siraut, and further thoughts on the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of DRT services compared with other bus-based solutions for areas of low demand by Professor Peter White.

In his Editorial Opinion, Peter Stonham takes a look at the most helpful ways to look at the future context for transport investment in a world of rapid change and uncertainty, both affecting and being generated by human behaviour and expectations. He offers observations about newly published Government thinking on an expanding role for short distance air transport, including drones for freight and passengers, that their advocates see as heralding a new era in aviation.

These are the headlines of just some of the stories in this issue:

• Changes planned to transport decision making to meet climate resilience needs

• £50m ‘Mid Cornwall Metro’ rail upgrade scheme underway

• Pre-scrutiny of major plans called for by PAC chair amid concerns on spending waste

• Locally tailored flexible bus solutions better than DRT to plug gaps in provision, say experts

• Passenger rail usage leaps 20 percent in last quarter of 2023, says ORR data

• ‘Age of the flying taxi’ by 2030 promised in government’s Future of Flight action plan

• Public attitudes to transport choices probed in new IPPR social survey

• £101m funding allocations for active travel schemes announced by ATE

• Plan now for the return to commercial bus fares after £2 cap ends, says CPT

• DfT issues revised bus franchising guidance

• EV take-up still held back by charging concerns and costs, TfN study shows

• New Welsh transport minister Skates signals watering down of Sloman roads policy

• Starmer pledges more transport devolution as Labour expects big gains in council elections