South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (SYPTA) was celebrating last night (Tuesday 17 July) when it was crowned PTA of the Year at the prestigious National Transport Awards.
SYPTA, which is responsible for improving public transport in South Yorkshire, was presented with the award at the transport industry’s equivalent to the Oscars. The polices of SYPTA are implemented by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE).
Now in its seventh year the National Transport Awards celebrate the many transport achievements across the UK and Ireland. They recognise and reward planners and providers who have made a real difference to the transport system and the people that use it.
The award ceremony took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Roy Wicks, Director General of SYPTE, said: “We are delighted to receive this award, it is a real honour and testament to just how hard the Transport Authority and Executive work, to promote and enhance public transport across the county.
Councillor Mick Jameson, Chair of SYPTA echoed these comments, and said: “Over the last year we have developed and delivered a number of cutting edge projects that have improved the quality, reliability and image of public transport in the region. We really are putting South Yorkshire on the national and global map.”
Some of the projects that SYPTE has delivered over the last year include:
• improving bus services - over the last 20 years, the changing social economic structure of South Yorkshire has led to a declining number of bus journeys. To reverse this trend SYPTE have proactively sought innovative ways to improve bus services, many of which have not been tried or tested by any other PTA or council in the UK. These include Voluntary Partnerships, Statutory Quality Partnerships and Quality Contracts
• Travel South Yorkshire – to make public transport easier to understand, the customer facing brand, Travel South Yorkshire was introduced. It encompasses everything to do with public transport under one umbrella. For more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com
• improving facilities across South Yorkshire – we have built a series of state-of-the-art transport interchanges across South Yorkshire. Examples include the newly opened Barnsley Interchange and Frenchgate Interchange, in Doncaster, which is the first public transport PFI-financed project in the UK. We have also recently refurbished Sheffield and Doncaster rail stations
• Sheffield to Leeds fast rail service – the service has proved so successful that in 2006 the Department for Transport agreed to permanently fund it, the first new rail service in South Yorkshire for more than a decade. Since it was introduced 782,468 people have used the service – an increase of 32.8%. In December 2008 the service frequency will be doubled and some trains extended to Nottingham
• Connect Sheffield – a joint project with Sheffield City Council, this innovative £5 million information signage project has improved the quality of information for bus passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in the city centre. It is the UK’s first integrated wayfinding system, linking public transport, vehicle and pedestrian information in one easy to understand format
• South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Academy - the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Academy is a learning partnership between SYPTE and Doncaster College. It provides direct access to learning activities for all transport workers across the county and offers both vocational and leisure based courses.