More than 36,000 people help shape East Midlands Transport Plan 

Reliable public transport, well-maintained roads and better-connected communities are among the top priorities identified by residents across the East Midlands in one of the region’s biggest consultations – helping to shape an East Midlands transport plan.

More than 36,000 people shared their views for the future of transport across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire through the Mayor’s Big Transport Conversation, led by Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward. 

The 12-week consultation, held from November 2025 to February 2026, invited residents, businesses, and organisations to help shape the Mayor’s Transport Plan. The plan will set the strategic direction for the region’s transport network and support economic growth, new homes and access to opportunity through to 2040. 

Mayor Claire said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in the Big Transport Conversation. More than 36,000 people shared their experiences, ideas and ambitions for transport in the East Midlands, and their message is clear: people want transport that makes everyday life easier, connects communities and opens up opportunity. 

“Reliable buses, well-maintained roads, safe and affordable journeys, and better links to work, education and healthcare matter deeply to people. They are essential to building a fairer region, where every community can share in the benefits of growth. 

“We have secured £2.2 billion from Government for transport, and we’re working with councils, transport operators and businesses to make sure that investment delivers better journeys for people across the East Midlands. The Mayor’s Transport Plan will set out how we build on that investment over the years ahead, bringing our plans for buses, roads, rail, walking, wheeling and cycling together through to 2040. We will keep listening to what people tell us and be open about the progress we make.” 

Dependable and reliable

The consultation findings show residents want: 

• Dependable everyday journeys; 
• Reliable public transport; 
• Well-maintained roads and pavements; 
• Safe and affordable travel; 
• Simpler ticketing; 
• Accurate journey information; 
• Better access to employment, education and essential services.  

Maintaining roads, pavements, bridges and street lighting emerged as the leading practical priority. 

Delivery has continued alongside development of the transport plan: 

• EMCCA is investing nearly £150 million over three years to improve bus services, journey times and reliability, including £21m to tackle traffic bottlenecks that delay buses. Current work also includes the Hope Valley ‘Mini-Switzerland’ rural pilot to improve coordination between bus and rail services; weekend and evening extensions to bus routes; plans for more than 1,000 additional real-time information displays in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire; and free travel for young people during August 2026; 
• £362m is being invested in roads, pavements, bridges and street lighting, alongside £42m for walking, wheeling and cycling routes; 
• Further investment includes £12.5m for road-safety enforcement and camera upgrades, and about £20m for electric vehicle charging infrastructure; 
• Improvements to the A614/A6097 corridor, £21m for the A50 Junction 3A and link road, strategic rail development and a regional network intelligence centre are also progressing. 

Together, these programmes show the scale of investment already under way as the Mayor’s Transport Plan is developed. 

Transport Plan findings

The findings also show how priorities vary across the region. Rural communities placed particular emphasis on better public transport and reducing isolation, while respondents in Derby and Nottingham gave greater priority to affordable fares, integrated ticketing and a wider choice of travel options. Young people emphasised affordability, and disabled respondents highlighted the importance of reliable, accessible and safe journeys. 

The findings will now shape the full Mayor’s Transport Plan, alongside technical evidence and assessments of its effects on communities, health, equality and the environment. The next stage will develop proposals for regional bus improvements, the most important local roads and higher-capacity public transport, before the full plan is published for a second public consultation and formally adopted.

Click here for a link to The Mayor’s Transport Plan: Your Voice findings.