A NEW era for local public transport has begun - but there's a long way to go.

Only by winning the hearts and minds of residents can Greater Manchester's new integrated transport policy succeed.

Transport minister Dr John Reid came to Manchester on Monday (August 3) to launch the strategy for the region, the first of its kind in the country.

It aims to improve existing buses, trains and trams and bring them together into a comprehensive and integrated network.

The scheme has the strong support of the Government which, in its recent White Paper A New Deal for Transport, urged other areas to follow Greater Manchester's example.

With the number of cars on the roads forecast to rise by 30 per cent in 20 years, transport bosses hope to encourage people out of their cars by providing quality public transport alternatives. The project involves a partnership comprising the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (on behalf of the ten GM councils), the Highways Agency, bus operators, Metrolink, North West trains and Manchester Airport.

The project was welcomed by Bury Council leader Derek Boden, who attended the launch on Monday.

"It's no longer reasonable to expect to use your car to go wherever you want, whenever you want; it cannot be done," he said. "Come September when the schools are back there will be traffic jams again on Bury roads."

Councillor Boden recognised that people's attitudes would not change overnight, despite the range of changes (see article right).

"You've got to give people real alternatives to get them into the habit of using public transport," he said.

"You're dealing with things that stop people using public transport, like information on what bus to get, where to get it, and whether it will show up on time."

He added: "There's a long way to go but this is a start and one which had to be made."

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