The Mayor of the East Midlands has welcomed the announcement of a new mass transit workforce to reshape the future of urban transport across the UK.
The Department for Transport said the taskforce will tackle barriers to delivery – supporting economic growth, jobs and new homes.
Alongside this, the government has also announced it will consult on measures to devolve additional powers to Mayors, allowing them to have final say over decisions related to public transport – including mass transit.
Named Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAOs), the devolution of these powers will ensure local leaders will have more tools to deliver local transport which meets the needs of local people.
Mayor Claire said: “We know there’s still more to do to build a fully connected region, but it’s something we should be proud of – Nottingham and the East Midlands are helping set the pace for other towns and cities across the country.
“I’m delighted by the Government’s announcement of a new Mass Transit Taskforce to help shape the future of transport nationwide, alongside plans to give Mayors more power over public transport decisions.
“Putting more control in local hands is exactly what’s needed to deliver transport that works for communities, unlocks growth and housing opportunities, and better connects people to jobs, education and opportunity.”
The taskforce, which includes leading experts from the world of transport, industry, finance and academia will identify the biggest hurdles facing the introduction of mass transit systems across the UK, and how to overcome them.
Mass transit encompasses networks of trams, light rail and high-frequency buses that move large numbers of people quickly across towns and cities, and has transformed urban life in places like Nottingham, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. These systems connect people with jobs, homes and opportunities, while cutting congestion and carbon emissions.
Working independently, and led by chair Bridget Rosewell CBE, the taskforce will draw on best practice from across the world to make recommendations on how Mass Transit systems can be delivered quickly. Other members of the taskforce will include Create Streets managing director David Milner, Arup chief officer for global business and markets Richard Di Cani and Jason Prince, director of the Urban Transport Group. The Urban Transport Group will also provide the secretariat for the Taskforce.
Currently factors like the planning processes, fragmented funding arrangements and failure to acquire land get in the way of delivering these systems, and the taskforce will seek to overcome these by identifying practical reforms to planning, financing and delivery models, and making targeted recommendations to government.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Mass transit has the potential to transform towns and cities across the country. Creating a better, more integrated transport system will not only support economic growth and new jobs but will also deliver desperately needed housing.
“That’s why I am delighted to announce the formation of the Mass Transit Taskforce who will use their skills and vast knowledge to deliver real and practical recommendations to shape the future of urban transport for years to come.
“Meanwhile we’re putting power in local hands, empowering Mayors to deliver mass transit in their towns and cities so they can make decisions for the communities they know best.”
The work of the taskforce is already under way, with evidence already being gathered ahead of its first recommendations in six months’ time.
Further details on the taskforce, including its full membership and immediate next steps, will be announced in due course.
Ms Rosewell said: “Integrated mass transit systems can transform how people move around our towns and cities, connecting communities with jobs, homes and opportunity.
“I am pleased to chair this taskforce as it looks closely at the barriers to delivery and provides practical recommendations to government and local leaders on how to turn ambition into reality.”
Today’s announcement builds on a package of measures the Government has taken to give local leaders greater control over transport in their areas.
Spending Review 2025 committed £15.6 billion to Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements, more than doubling investment in local transport across England’s largest city regions.
The Bus Services Act, which became law in October 2025, marked a new era for bus travel – making it easier for local authorities to take control of routes, protecting passengers from sudden cuts and lifting the ban on councils running their own bus companies.
The Government’s Better Connected strategy, launched in April 2026 following a visit by the Transport Secretary to Nottingham, sets out more than 40 commitments to make everyday journeys simpler and more affordable.
Among its measures, local leaders are being given new tools to introduce tap-and-go contactless travel across buses, trams and trains, replicating the joined-up systems already in place in cities like Nottingham, Liverpool and London.
