1. What’s the Combined Authority all about
James White
Public Transport Consortium
7 September 2017
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) covers Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
WECA also supports the Local Enterprise Partnership and Joint Committee, which includes North Somerset.

2. Where we are
West of England Combined Authority covers Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol & South Gloucestershire
The LEP also incorporates North Somerset and Business
Population of 1,131,300
90% of residents work within the area

3. 6th/8 City-region LEP areas
Key facts and figures
43.6% degree level
36.8%
West of England
England
13.5%
Business Birth Rate 2014
6th/8 City-region LEP areas
26th/39 LEP areas
Aerospace – 9 out of 12 of the largest aerospace companies

4. Key challenges
“Our vision is to be a beacon of growth and innovation; a place where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential and where prosperity delivers for everybody.”
Productivity is leveling off
Skill shortages constrain growth across key sectors
Region’s transport system is under strain
Housing delivery and affordability is a critical issue
Broadband speed and connectivity is variable
Future growth must be more environmentally sustainable
Pockets of deprivation

5. Key transport challenges
The scale of the challenge
NOW
Congestion costs £300m
Peak time average speed 22.4 mph (23.7mph nationally)
300 deaths per year in Bristol attributable to poor air quality
(1 death per 1,500 population, compared with
1 death per 2,200 nationally)
29% of C02 emissions are from transport (24% nationally)
64% travel to work by car
(highest of all core city regions)
8.8% of journeys by public transport (lowest of all core city regions)
2026
Congestion costs £500m
Delays up 17%
2036
Congestion costs £800m
Delays up 40%
Vehicle trips up 26%
Time spent queuing up 74%
Journey time up 9%
C02 emissions up 22%

6. Where there has been investment in buses, rail and cycling we are experiencing unprecedented levels of growth. We need to build on this.
Cycling growing by
10%
per year
Due to Cycling City, Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Cycling Ambition Fund and Travel Access Fund.
Bus passengers up by 7%
in 2015/16, while
nationally numbers fell by 0.6% and by 1.5% in other Core City regions.
Due to Greater Bristol Bus Network investment, First Bus fares policy review, residents’ parking scheme rollout.
Rail passengers up by 56%
since 2008 and by
122%
on the Severn Beach Line.
Second highest growth in UK, from 0.5m to 1.4m passengers a year.
Due to service improvements and enhanced stations and publicity.

7. Transport devolution powers
Joint Local Transport Plan
Concessionary travel
Supported bus services
Real Time Information
Community Transport
Key Route Network
Clean Air Zones
Bus franchising
£30m West of England Investment Fund per year

8. Going forward Joint Transport Study New Joint Spatial Plan
New Joint Local Transport Plan
New programme of major schemes
MetroWest
MetroBus
Improve connectivity in the region to increase access to jobs, reduce congestion and promote sustainable transport choices.