This paper examines why there has been a surge of public transport planning activity in the UK, despite UK Government legislation aimed at withdrawing from involvement in public transport. New plans have led to justified requests for Government grants, that have exceeded available funding. To explain this phenomenon, the paper concentrates on urban areas. The legislation intended to remove local government control of most bus routes, levels of service, and fares. Open competition was expected to occur, with certain safeguards, and several improvements were predicted. The results by no means always achieved the intention of the legislation. Limited Government funding is provided for some capital bus projects, some capital bus projects, which can be justified by a cost-benefit appraisal. Although the new legislative and regulatory framework seemed to make it much more difficult to plan for integrated public transport systems, there have been other forces working in favour of public transport. Some current plans for urban public transport schemes are outlined. Relevant modelling techniques include: (1) strategic modelling; (2) public transport assignment models; (3) analysis of congested networks; (4) matrix estimation; and (5) stated preference.
Abstract