The Transport Executive is responsible for the co-ordination of public transport in South Yorkshire. It is accountable to the Passenger Transport Authority, which is made up of nominated elected members from the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
It also forms part of the partnership involved in Travel South Yorkshire.
Although the Transport Executive does not run any transport services directly, it purchases rail and some bus services from private operators. It also provides region-wide information, manages the funding and administration of concessionary fares, provides bus stops and shelters, and operates interchanges and information centres throughout the region.
As well as operating these facilities it funds, promotes and manages transport initiatives ranging from rural bus services to major investments, such as transport interchanges.
The Transport Executive's primary goals are to provide:
- a realistic alternative to the car that will encourage a shift in people's mode of travel
- quality transport for those without the use of a car to enable them to access jobs, education, shops, healthcare and other facilities
- good public transport services linking businesses to employees and customers.
The Transport Executive also:
- subsidises socially necessary local bus services that cannot be provided commercially
- specifies, pays for, develops and monitors local rail services
- administers and funds a comprehensive concessionary fare scheme
- promotes equal access to public transport for all
- co-ordinates and promotes activities to achieve better integrated public transport services
- provides travel information
- administers prepaid ticket schemes
- plans future investment in transport infrastructure and services.