The East Midlands Combined Authority, led by Mayor Claire Ward, will take over all transport responsibility for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire by April next year.
It has more than £2 billion to spend on improvements, secured in funding from central government.
But what it will be spent on exactly is down to the people.
Those who want to share their thoughts can have their say on the EMCCA website, where a wide-reaching questionnaire and survey is now live.
The Mayor is also hosting public drop-in exhibitions across the region from now until just before Christmas, where those interested can talk to her at one of 17 locations across the region – one for each borough/district and one each in the cities of Nottingham and Derby.
“This really sets out our strategic priorities for the next 15 years,” said the Mayor. “We’re asking people to give us their views and to understand some of the challenges that we face in this region and to talk to us more about that.
“There are opportunities in the questionnaire for people to tell us their thoughts. This is about the big picture. We’ve got to think differently and we want to hear from people. I hope we’re going to have lots of people submitting their views and contributing.”
When the consultation is finished, it will be used to create a strategy for the region, which will be put into a more nuanced plan by the end of 2026.
“This is really about the strategic plan,” said the Mayor. “It’s not so much about whether the 55 bus stops at the end of my road.”
The consultation, which lasts until February 13, will be advertised everywhere over the next three months, with the first indication of that via posters put up on this Stagecoach bus’ wall.
“Hopefully, for the next 12 weeks, the public in this region will not be able to avoid me,” says Mayor Claire. “I’ve already had to warn my family to not crash the car when they see my picture on the back of a bus.”
Six fights for a fairer, better-connected East Midlands
The Mayor’s plan is built around six key “fights” that she says reflect what matters to her the most.
- Fighting congestion
No one has a favourite traffic jam. Congestion means pollution, frustration and lost time – a daily barrier to work, productivity and wellbeing. The Mayor wants to hear how important you feel it is to tackle congestion and what local solutions could work best in the face of ongoing traffic growth. - Fighting for young people’s independence
Many families spend their days as unpaid chauffeurs. A fair transport system should give young people safe, affordable, independent travel – helping them reach education, training and social opportunities. - Fighting for connected communities
Town and city centres must be joined by better links to the places where people live and work. Schools, hospitals and major employers should be accessible without relying on shuttlebuses – the Mayor wants to hear what improvements are needed to make this possible. - Fighting for reliable public transport
When a bus is full before it reaches your stop, when services are patchy or unreliable, everyday life becomes harder. The plan aims to map and fix these gaps so every community has dependable, affordable options. - Fighting for better roads
Drivers and cyclists alike have zero tolerance for potholes. Poor-quality roads damage vehicles, safety and confidence. The Mayor is asking how much of the transport budget people want to see invested in fixing roads relative to other transport improvements. - Fighting for safe and clean bus stops
The signpost of the community but if they’re unlit, without customer information and in need of repair, they can be a barrier to people using a bus service, especially in rural areas. The Mayor wants to know what residents need from their bus stops to make them more appealing.
