Transport

The Combined Authority will take on a leading role in shaping how transport is planned, prioritised, funded, and delivered across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton. With new powers and responsibilities, the HSCCA will be able to coordinate strategic transport investment supporting economic growth, improving accessibility, and enabling sustainable, integrated travel for residents, businesses, and communities.

HSCCA will have a range of powers to manage transport across the region:

• Preparing and publishing a Local Transport Plan for developing and improving Hampshire and the Solent’s regional transport network.
• Developing public transport: HSCCA will create a regional bus strategy, work with operators through partnerships or franchising schemes, and manage travel concessions.
• Managing key regional routes: HSCCA will create and oversee a Key Route Network made up of important roads that connect the local road network across council boundaries and link into the National Highways Strategic Road Network. These routes play a vital role in regional connectivity, and the Mayor may direct councils on how they are maintained and improved to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Coordinating funding: HSCCA will receive the transport funding for the region and oversee how money is spent on transport and highways to deliver the best outcomes for the region.
• Providing public transport services where needed: HSCCA will have powers to make sure passenger transport is available in areas where private companies do not run services.
• Supporting greener travel: The Mayor will have powers to licence rental schemes for e-scooters, bikes, and e-bikes to encourage sustainable travel options.
• Raising funds for transport: HSCCA will have powers to introduce levies on local authorities to help pay for transport services if required.

A small number of these responsibilities are specifically for the mayor, such as designating the Key Route Network, or responsibility for any future bus franchising. Where a power is reserved for the mayor HSCCA won’t exercise it until the Mayor comes into office.

Transport across the region face several pressing challenges. Congestion on key routes, particularly during peak hours and in urban centres, affects journey times and reliability, which in turn, impacts the economic prosperity of one of the South-East’s largest exporting regions.

Public transport provision can be inconsistent, especially in rural and coastal communities, limiting accessibility and social inclusion. The region also has ageing infrastructure and capacity constraints require significant investment to meet current and future demand. Environmental concerns, including poor air quality linked to transport emissions, pose risks to public health and sustainability.

• The HSCCA could deliver a more coordinated, sustainable, and inclusive transport system. Devolved powers will enable improved collaboration across Hampshire and the Solent local authorities, consistent delivery of infrastructure projects and access to new funding, supporting investment in public transport and active travel solutions.
• The HSCCA could focus on improving air quality, social inclusion, aiming for an integrated transport network that serves our urban, rural, and coastal communities, making transport safer, more reliable, and more accessible.
• Close partnership working with Department for Transport (DfT), key regional partners, local businesses and communities will be key to integrate transport with sustainability, health, and other community benefits.