The benefits of providing new public transport in deprived areas
This study assesses the social and monetary value of public transport initiatives in four deprived areas of England in order to identify who benefits and how they benefit in relation to wider social inclusion objectives. The travel needs of people in the deprived areas studied could not be wholly met by traditional commercial public transport.
New bus services enabled people to take up job opportunities, access health appointments and make shopping trips that were previously not possible. Participation in leisure and social activities also increased.
Improving public transport information and helping with the cost of fares was as important as improved bus services in helping people on low incomes move from welfare into work.
On the basis of total fare and journey time savings alone, the services studied had an aggregate social benefit of between £21,000 and £661,000 a year. These figures do not take account of any wider social benefit from wholly new trips.
People in the deprived areas studied agreed that more needs to be done to support transport services if regeneration is to be successful. A lack of systematic evaluation of new transport services means local authorities and other agencies lack vital evidence to secure further funding once initial funding ends. The study recommends a comprehensive review of the commercial bus network and publicly subsidised services in deprived areas. This would help identify shortfalls in provision and show where public spending on transport could be most effectively targeted. The full report, The value of new public transport in deprived areas: Who benefits, how and why?, can be downloaded from the site.
8 July 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation