New chair appointed to Greater Manchester Transport Committee

Cllr Mark Aldred has been appointed to chair the Greater Manchester Transport Committee (GMTC), the body which oversees TfGM and other local transport operators in the city-region.

GMTC is a joint committee made up of representatives from Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and city-region Mayor, Andy Burnham. It represents residents and businesses across Greater Manchester to ensure operators are being held to account with the delivery and performance of transport services.

Cllr Aldred, a councillor in Wigan, previously served as GMTC chair from August 2019 to June 2022, and will take over from outgoing chair, Cllr Andrew Western. He also chairs the GMTC Bus Sub-Committee, and will lead the committee through the establishment of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s vision for joined-up, London-style public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.

Cllr Mark Aldred, Chair of the Greater Manchester Transport Committee said:

“I am delighted to be taking up the reins once again as chair of the GMTC and would like to thank fellow committee members for their support.

“The role of the committee is more important than ever in holding operators, TfGM and other bodies to account for delivering important transport services to the people of Greater Manchester as we recover from a global pandemic and support our residents during the cost-of-living crisis.

“Not only that, the city-region is progressing with the delivery of a fully-integrated transport network, the Bee Network, which includes the return of buses to public control and ensuring residents have easy access to bus, rail and Metrolink services. We also continue our plans to deliver the largest cycling and walking network in the UK.

“Now, more than ever, we need a transport system that is affordable and accessible to all and allows people to better connect with opportunities across the region. I look forward to working closely with the Mayor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Committee Members from all parts of Greater Manchester, as we make sure the needs of Greater Manchester residents are at the heart of how transport services are planned and delivered.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham added:

“I am delighted to appoint Councillor Aldred as Chair of the Greater Manchester Transport Committee.

“We are making great strides in public transport reform to deliver an integrated London-style system for our city-region, and I welcome the considerable experience and leadership that Cllr Aldred will bring to the role.

“I look forward to working closely with Mark once again as chair and of course the rest of the committee on the transport agenda, building on their achievements so far around the scrutiny and delivery of the transformative Bee Network vision.”