Transport for Greater Manchester have released their strategy to take us forward to 2040 and they are looking for comments.

www.tfgm.com/2040/Pages/strategy/index.html

It is a bold vision of a joined up transport system where people use public transport and walk and cycle much more.  But, we have some questions. While this may be wonderful for the city centre of Manchester and the areas close to it what about…

• How does this strategy link up the more distant areas of Greater Manchester – areas like Hazel Grove where we are losing bus services like the 373 already?
• Where in the strategy are the things that Hazel Grove, Stockport and the whole south of Manchester need like the south Manchester trams that have been talked about for years and the Hazel Grove bypass and road through to Bredbury?  They say that the details will come later but we need these vital infrastructure improvements as soon as possible, not to be left behind.
• What about roads like the A6 and A34, major routes in and out of Manchester that will only get busier with all of those extra people, jobs and journeys?  We know how even minor roadworks can cause chaos on these incredibly busy roads already – what will more traffic do?
• This all relies on many people getting out of their cars and onto public transport and cycles or walking.  How do you do that if you live outside the city and need a car to do at least some of the journeys you make?

Have your say here – the consultation closes on 26th September 2016.

Personally, I think that our transport strategy will be overtaken by technology well before 2040 with driverless cars and other vehicles providing taxi services very cheaply, some within ten years. The benefits will be enormous, liberating more people to travel much more freely. But, the challenge will be integrating public services into a seamless whole rather than descending into transport chaos.

Jon