Policy paper

Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport – executive summary

Published 2 April 2026

Applies to England

Better Connected

Better Connected is this government’s vision for domestic transport in England. That vision is simple – for transport to work well for people, for it to be safe, reliable, affordable and accessible so they can get on in life and make the journeys they need to easily.

It is shaped by what we have heard from our co-design process and research, the changes we know are happening in society and in transport, and by what we want to achieve for this country. Our guiding principles of People, Place and Partnership will underpin how transport is designed, built and operated in the future enabling more seamless journeys across the network. First and foremost, we will ensure that people are at the heart of everything we do, so transport serves them, no matter who they are. Second, we will use transport to create better connected places across the country, so communities can thrive and grow. And finally, we will work in partnership across government, with local leaders and the transport sector, so that decision-making is effective, collaborative, and delivers the right outcomes for people and places.

These guiding principles support the 8 priorities set out in Better Connected, that have been shaped by what people and stakeholders told us matter most to them. These priorities are not premised on what type of transport people might be using, but by what people told us they want and need from the transport system, however and whenever they choose to travel. Progress on these priorities will create an integrated transport system, one where people are able to travel easily and reliably across local and national networks which feel joined up and have been designed to meet their needs.

Simplify payments and information

Journeys will be easier to plan and undertake with a simple approach to payments and information, so people can travel door-to-door with confidence that they are not overpaying. This means making fares and payments for all kinds of travel more straightforward and improving integrated ticketing for public transport. We will make more kinds of travel information available, accurate, and easy to access. We will ensure local transport authorities have the tools they need to deliver integrated ticketing in their areas; and that travellers have access to reliable, up-to-date information about everything from roadworks to station lifts.

Provide dependable and safe journeys

We will provide safe and dependable transport so people can trust the network and travel with confidence. This means anticipating and responding effectively to disruption, improving reliability for drivers and public transport users and proactively maintaining roads, pavements and rail networks. It also means reducing deaths and injuries on the network and embedding user insight into future delivery. To support this, we will expand the role of the strengthened rail passenger watchdog so it can monitor passenger experience and advocate for the rights and interests of passengers across all public transport.

Make travel accessible and affordable

The transport network will be increasingly accessible and affordable, providing people real choice in how they travel. We will do this by designing accessible travel environments and taking action to reduce the cost of transport, including through the first rail fares freeze in 30 years. We will work with disabled people to build a shared framework for travel through our Accessible Travel Charter that will set expectations for transport providers to implement accessibility best practice across the network.

Create healthier communities

Transport will help create healthier communities, where making healthy travel choices will be easy and convenient, supporting cleaner, quieter and more liveable places. To achieve this, we will improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes, improve integration between cycle and rail, and scale-up shared mobility. This is alongside delivering cleaner transport to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution, helping to reduce health inequalities. We will strengthen statutory guidance for local transport authorities, making clear that pavements and cycle paths must be planned, maintained, and managed with the same priority as road infrastructure.

Align transport and development

Decisions on transport and development will be better joined up, creating more well-connected places to live. To achieve this, we will integrate our approach to transport, housing and wider development across the system, embed vision-led planning across all tiers of government and use transport infrastructure to unlock new developments. We will set an expectation that where new housing is built close to existing transport routes, its density will be maximised so that more people experience good connectivity.

Champion data and technology

We will champion data and technology to deliver an integrated, innovative and accessible transport system that is fit for the future. This means embedding technology and innovation in transport, strengthening transport’s digital and data foundations and investing in digital technology to ensure that we are maximising the opportunities that they offer. We will increase the amount of open data in the transport system and support local authorities to trial innovative solutions that deliver tangible impacts to the places and people they represent.

Empower local leaders

We will support and empower local leaders who are accountable to their local electorate to deliver better local transport for their communities. To achieve this, we will put more power in their hands, provide them with integrated and long-term funding, empower them to deliver local transport that they judge is right for their communities and prioritise local capacity and capability building. We will ensure that the outcomes and indicators we set for local transport funding settlements are aligned with the vision and priorities set out in this strategy.

Optimise decision-making and appraisal

We will optimise decision-making and appraisal so that it aligns with the principles set out in this strategy, and is underpinned by high quality analysis. To achieve this, we will deliver integrated and transparent decision-making, strengthen our people-focussed evidence base, and work to enable excellent local decisions and appraisal. We will shortly publish our new Appraisal, Modelling and Evaluation Strategy, to align our analytical work to the vision set out in this strategy.

Delivering Better Connected

We are committed to monitoring and evaluating the delivery of this strategy and will publish a progress update this Parliament. We will track the delivery of our commitments, understand what our commitments and the overall strategy have enabled, and monitor key metrics to seek to understand how we are changing people’s experience of transport for the better.