Council vision on improving Staffordshires public transport

Stoke-on-Trent is set to give the green light to an ambitious vision of better transport across the city and wider county.

The document - called the Joint Strategic Transport Statement - has been drawn up by senior leaders from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council.

It sets out a series of shared priorities that include:

• Improving public transport - through greater rail capacity, a joined-up approach to growing bus use and regional integrated ticketing

• Supporting zero-emission infrastructure - through measures including decarbonising bus and taxi fleets and increasing access to residential EV charging

• Making the road network more efficient and safe - by maintaining and enhancing key road corridors, prioritising road safety through better design and enforcement and better management of traffic flows

• Promoting active travel - by, for example, developing area cycle networks, improving active travel routes and delivering housing in locations that enable walking, wheeling and cycling

• Investing in digital connectivity and modernisation - such as smart traffic management systems, better real-time travel information, and sharing data.

Priority projects include a Bus Rapid Transport network across North Staffordshire, multi-modal upgrades of the A52 and A53 and a package of rail station improvements that includes Stoke-on-Trent and potential new stations at Meir and Etruria.

Other projects include new mobility hubs for places without fixed bus services, a connected and segregated cycle network making use of the region’s extensive canal paths, an upgrade of junction 15 of the M6 and a bus-only link road at Newport Lane, which will help to open up job and economic opportunities at Etruria Valley.

The statement also calls for "substantial" capacity and service improvements on the West Coast Main Line following the cancellation of the second phase of HS2. That would include more services stopping at Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire stations.

And it makes the environmental as well as economic case for enhanced public transport - noting that 40 per cent of carbon from trips into, out of, and inside Staffordshire are from trips of under 10 miles.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “We’re already getting on with the job of improving transport in Stoke-on-Trent. Our Bus Service Improvement Plan has reduced fares and introduced new routes and technology to prioritise buses at key junctions - and our Transforming Cities Fund project is delivering major upgrades at Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station, which will make a real difference to passengers.

“But we can’t afford build walls at our borders. The challenges we face - whether it’s fixing our roads, improving rail links, or making public transport a better option for more people - don’t stop at the city limits. If we want real progress, we need to work closely with our neighbours and push together for the investment we need.

“That’s what this Joint Strategic Transport Statement is about. Devolution is a chance to take control of our own future, but it only works if we work together - and we will work together to get things done.

“By strengthening our partnerships with Staffordshire County Council, transport operators and government, we can deliver a transport system that actually works for people - one that’s reliable, sustainable, and fit for the future. And when we do that, we don’t just improve transport, we unlock new jobs, attract investment and help Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire grow.”

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways Mark Deaville said: “Our joint transport statement sets out a vision for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent where we recognise that networks and operations span administrative borders.

“Through close collaboration and by pooling our resources and knowledge, we can work effectively with central government and other key organisations, attracting the investment needed to improve transport corridors and both local and regional services.

“We’re committed to creating an efficient and sustainable transport system for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. This will increase opportunities for our communities, boost economic growth and support carbon reduction, whilst optimising our central location and existing connectivity.”

The Joint Strategic Transport Statement will be discussed at a Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday 25 February.