Opinion: Andy Burnham's First Year Must Be About Transport, Not Headlines

Five transport priorities that could quietly deliver the economic stimulus Britain has been searching for

By Kevin Robinson

When historians look back on the first year of Andy Burnham's premiership, they may focus on the headline-grabbing decisions. Scrapping the controversial national digital ID card scheme, resetting Britain's relationship with Europe, or navigating an increasingly uncertain international landscape will inevitably dominate newspaper front pages.

But history has a habit of rewarding governments not for the biggest announcements, but for the decisions that quietly reshape the economy.

If Burnham genuinely wants to deliver what he has described as "good growth in every postcode", transport must sit at the heart of that mission. Throughout his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he has consistently argued that investment in transport is investment in opportunity, productivity and regional prosperity.

Infrastructure may not generate the same headlines as foreign policy or constitutional reform, but it determines whether people can get to work, businesses can trade efficiently and regions can attract investment.

These are the five transport priorities that should define Burnham's first twelve months.

1. Deliver Genuine Transport Devolution

No politician has done more to champion devolved transport than Andy Burnham.

The transformation of Greater Manchester's franchised bus network and the creation of the Bee Network have become his flagship achievements, demonstrating what can happen when local leaders are given genuine control over transport planning.

His first task should be extending that model.

Giving mayors long-term funding settlements, greater borrowing powers and responsibility for buses, local rail, highways and active travel would allow decisions to be made where the impacts are actually felt.

Whitehall cannot continue deciding every junction improvement or local rail enhancement from Westminster.

Burnham has long argued that decisions affecting local transport should be taken by local leaders rather than central government.

Speaking during his leadership campaign, he said:

"Power needs to leave Westminster and move much closer to the people. Place must come before party."

The success of the Bee Network has become the practical demonstration of that philosophy, proving that devolved transport powers can deliver visible improvements to passengers while creating stronger local accountability.

2. Publish a Long-Term Infrastructure Pipeline

The UK construction industry does not lack capability.

It lacks certainty.

Too many schemes are announced, delayed, redesigned and cancelled before a shovel ever reaches the ground.

Burnham should commit to a rolling ten-year transport investment programme covering roads, rail, light rail, ports and freight.

That would give contractors confidence to invest in skills, apprenticeships, manufacturing and innovation while creating a more stable supply chain.

Infrastructure certainty creates economic certainty.

Burnham has repeatedly criticised Britain's stop-start approach to infrastructure investment.

Addressing transport leaders earlier this year, he posed a simple but important question:

"Does Whitehall understand the critical importance of transport to a growing economy?"

It is a question that cuts to the heart of Britain's infrastructure challenge. Businesses invest when governments provide certainty, and certainty comes through long-term planning rather than short-term political cycles.

3. Treat Roads as Economic Infrastructure

Rail understandably dominates transport debates, yet around 90 per cent of passenger journeys and the overwhelming majority of freight still depend upon roads.

For too long, road maintenance has been viewed as a cost rather than an investment.

Britain needs a renewed focus on preventative maintenance, bridge renewals, digital traffic management and network resilience rather than waiting for assets to fail before intervening.

A smoother, more reliable road network reduces business costs, improves productivity and supports every sector of the economy.

Sometimes the most valuable investment isn't building something new—it's protecting what already exists.

Burnham has consistently argued that transport infrastructure should be viewed as an enabler of economic growth rather than simply another area of government expenditure.

Congestion, unreliable journeys and deteriorating assets all carry an economic cost, limiting productivity and making it harder for businesses to compete.

4. Accelerate Integrated Public Transport

Burnham has already shown what integrated ticketing and coordinated services can achieve.

Now he has the opportunity to think nationally.

Passengers do not care which organisation operates their train, tram or bus.

They care about reliability, affordability and simplicity.

A nationwide integrated ticketing platform, combined with better timetable coordination and seamless interchanges, could transform public transport without requiring every solution to involve expensive new infrastructure.

The technology already exists.

What has been missing is the political will.

Burnham has frequently described his ambition as creating:

"A London-style integrated public transport system."

The Bee Network has demonstrated that integration is about far more than branding. It is about making public transport easier to understand, easier to use and more attractive than the private car.

5. Put Freight at the Centre of Growth

Perhaps the most overlooked opportunity lies in freight.

Road haulage, rail freight and ports underpin every supermarket shelf, manufacturing plant and construction project in Britain.

Yet freight rarely receives the political attention it deserves.

Burnham should accelerate rail freight growth, improve strategic road freight corridors, modernise logistics hubs and simplify planning for distribution infrastructure.

If Britain wants higher productivity, goods must move faster and more efficiently.

Burnham has consistently linked transport investment with economic competitiveness, arguing that infrastructure should be judged not simply on its upfront cost but on its ability to unlock productivity and regional growth.

His wider vision remains one of delivering "good growth in every postcode" by ensuring every part of the country has the transport connectivity needed to attract investment, create jobs and support thriving businesses.

Small Decisions,

Big Economic Consequences

Critics may argue these priorities are relatively modest compared with foreign affairs, constitutional reform or national security.

They would be wrong.

Economic growth is rarely unlocked by a single grand gesture.

It is created through thousands of daily journeys that become quicker, safer and more reliable.

It is businesses expanding because logistics improve.

It is investors choosing Britain because infrastructure gives them confidence.

It is workers reaching better-paid jobs because public transport connects opportunity with communities.

Transport is not simply about moving people.

It is about moving the economy.

Andy Burnham has built his political reputation on the belief that economic renewal begins with places rather than institutions. If that philosophy now guides government, transport should become the first and most visible test of whether "good growth in every postcode" can become more than a slogan.

Britain's roads, railways, buses and freight networks may lack the drama of foreign policy or constitutional reform, but they possess something far more valuable: the ability to generate lasting economic prosperity in every corner of the United Kingdom.

If Andy Burnham spends his first year laying the foundations for a more connected, devolved and resilient transport system, he may achieve something far more significant than a series of eye-catching political announcements.

He will have created the conditions for long-term national prosperity—and that may ultimately prove to be the defining legacy of his first year in Downing Street.