The Cardiff Capital Region Transport Authority (CCRTA), which was established to co-ordinate transport planning and investment within the region, has formally met for the first time to outline the actions needed to support the City Deal.
Working in partnership with the Welsh Government, the CCRTA, Chaired by the Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Cllr Huw David, has set about developing a Strategic Regional Transport Plan and programmes which will firstly review and prioritise existing draft plans in the light of City Deal and the emerging wider economic strategy following the results from the Growth and Competitiveness Commission.
Issues the authority will consider and have influence in going forward include rail strategy development including integrated ticketing, bus strategy and infrastructure implementation, highway schemes including strategy, implementation and maintenance, traffic management, active travel, schools transport and parking services.
Certain actions the authority will undertake during the development process include clarifying roles and responsibility for delivery of technical aspects of transport functions to establish an effective partnership and avoid duplication, supporting Councils in any transport-related collaboration that they wish to engage in, and supporting the Joint Cabinet with transport expertise as required.
The authority is also actively engaging with Welsh Government and Transport for Wales on co-designing the South East Wales Metro schemes.
The proposed plans developed will then be put to the City Deal Cabinet of Leaders for consideration and approval.
Cllr Huw David, chair of the Shadow RTA Board, said: “Developing and integrating our transport system is vital to the economic transformation of the Cardiff Capital Region over the next 20 years. It is essential for connecting our communities , enabling people to travel to places of work, leisure and services and to open up new areas for economic development and expansion.
“The RTA will play a key role in advising the Shadow Join Cabinet of local authority leaders on what the strategy should be to achieve these objectives, offering a collective voice that will ensure no community in the region is left behind.”
