Embedded Files
getting South Yorkshire on the move, safely, efficiently and with care for our environment
getting South Yorkshire on the move, safely, efficiently and with care for our environment
A thriving county needs a transport system that works for everyone. This means improving public transport, while also making life more pleasant for car and other road-users and encouraging a rapid transition away from petrol and diesel-fuelled transport.
Any good transport policy for South Yorkshire must recognise the centrality and necessity of the private car to a great many people’s lives, while also encouraging a transition to more sustainable methods. I know that one-size-fits-all will not work and recognise that what works for Sheffield city centre will not always be appropriate for other areas and the more rural villages. I would lobby for a new fast TransPennine road between Sheffield and Manchester to replace the cart-tracks that we currently have.
We do, however, need to make public transport as attractive as possible. As Mayor, I would work with bus operators, community groups, trade unions and local councils to deliver a strategy which builds a streamlined service that rivals the best public transport networks in the country. This will include:
• Investment in better electronic signage at stops and stations.
• Developing an app to show the live-locations of all buses rather than competing apps for different companies.
• Consulting with the public on unmet demand for bus services and developing the appropriate routes.
• Moving towards making all buses electric or hydrogen-powered
• Working with neighbouring counties and districts to make cross-border travel easier and cheaper.
I will commission a review into the feasibility of the extension of SuperTram into Doncaster and Barnsley. If there is a proven case to expand the network economically, I will work with the government and local councils to bring that about.
Decarbonising our transport does not have to mean attacking the car. Instead, we should be looking to move away from fossil fuels and towards electrically powered cars. I will therefore aim to make South Yorkshire a national leader in the provision of recharging points, located at convenient places.
On rail, the Tories’ cancellation of the Yorkshire leg of HS2 was an appalling betrayal of our county. As Mayor, I will demand of the government that South Yorkshire gets its fair share of rail investment, as promised. I want to see a commitment to the Sheffield-Leeds and Sheffield-Doncaster routes being fully electrified and Trans-Pennine routes upgraded.
I would commit to working with Doncaster’s Robin Hood Airport to look at ways of increasing commercial and freight flights, without expanding the number of runways. I will also encourage the airport management to match Leeds-Bradford airport’s commitment to being net zero by 2030.
Sheffield has rightly claimed the title of “the outdoor city.” I want to help continue that by developing cycle-lanes across all South Yorkshire. Where possible, these cycle-lanes should have a high level of separation from the road network, ideally via a physical break, to keep both motorist and cyclist safe. I would also encourage businesses and public buildings to provide cycle-sheds and other methods for safely securing bikes.
Keeping our streets safe for road-users must include proper maintenance, including, for example, dealing promptly with potholes. I will push the South Yorkshire councils to double the number of potholes filled per day, by adopting new-technology solutions, such as the Velocity system which is already successfully being used by Brent Council.
Maintaining better roads will deliver a better and safer experience for all of us. In particular, cyclists and motorcyclists will not have to weave out of the way of potholes, causing a danger to both themselves and other road users, and pedestrians – especially the elderly and mobility-impaired – will be at less risk of falling due to uneven surfaces.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse