Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) was formed by bringing together Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and Executive and the WESTRANS voluntary partnership.

The new SPT was established by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 which created Scotland's seven Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs). SPT retains many of the transport powers and functions which were previously exercised by Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority/Executive.

SPT's role now involves planning and delivering transport solutions for all modes of transport across the region, in conjunction with our member councils and industry partners. SPT is at the centre of the region's transport planning; analysing all travel needs and developing the transport system for now and the future. All aspects of transport have to be integrated - road, rail, freight, ferry, cycling and walking.

The SPT area comprises the following Council areas: East Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and the Helensburgh and Lomond area of Argyll and Bute.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport comprises 20 councillor members representing the 12 constituent unitary authorities in the West of Scotland and between seven and nine appointed members. The numbers of members from each council area are as follows:

• Glasgow City Council (5)
• South Lanarkshire Council (3)
• North Lanarkshire Council (3)
• Renfrewshire Council (1)
• East Renfrewshire Council (1)
• East Dunbartonshire Council (1)
• East Ayrshire Council (1)
• North Ayrshire Council (1)
• South Ayrshire Council (1)
• West Dunbartonshire Council (1)
• Inverclyde Council (1)
• Argyll and Bute Council (1)

SPT was required by law to submit a Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) to the Transport Minister in March 2007. The RTS will influence all of the future plans and activities of the organisation as well as inform future National and Local Transport Strategies.

Subway

The Subway provides a fast and reliable way of getting around central Glasgow. More than 14m passengers use the system each year.

Ferries

SPT owns and operates the Renfrew-Yoker ferry and we provide a subsidy to the Gourock-Kilcreggan-Helensburgh ferry. More than 230,000 passengers a year use the ferry services.

School run

Working with 11 local education authorities, we organise the 'biggest school run in Scotland'. Every day, SPT carries about 46,000 pupils, using public transport services, plus contract buses, cars and taxis.

Concessionary travel

SPT works with other organisations to provide free and discounted travel to those who are eligible, both inside and outside the SPT area.

Rail network investment

SPT has a major role to play in developing strategic rail projects, such as Crossrail and Partick station redevelopment. We also play a key role in improving services and facilities.

Ticketing

Our range of integrated travel tickets such as ZoneCard, Roundabout and family Daytripper give you discounted fares on buses, trains, ferries and the Subway.

Monitoring standards

Our Bus Wardens are working with local authorities to ensure that bus operators comply with regulations and through our bus improvement plan we are working to maintain and, where necessary, improve standards.

Maintaining bus shelters and bus stops

On behalf of councils, SPT maintains more than 1,700 bus shelters and about 10,000 bus stops. We have also invested about £3.7m to date in installing new stops and information display cases.

Operating and managing bus stations

SPT operates and manages Buchanan, Hamilton and East Kilbride bus stations which handle about 16m passengers a year.

Travel Centres and Travel Points

SPT's network of Travel Centres and Travel Points deal with more than 1.7m enquiries each year. Additionally the Mobile Travel Centre provides a unique service to rural.

Subsidised bus services

We subsidise local bus services in those areas not served by the commercial bus market. This aims to ensure that the most remote village or isolated housing estate has access to public transport.

Assisting people with mobility problems

We provide services including Dial-a-Bus services to enable those members of the community who have mobility problems. These services carry more than 370,000 passengers annually.

Sustainable solutions

We will help you to develop a Travel Plan - a series of measures and initiatives to promote and encourage sustainable staff travel with the aim of reducing the reliance on the car.

SPT and Equalities

SPT is committed ensuring equality for all in its activities, for our customers and our staff.

SPT is working to develop stronger links with our partners. These include our member councils, Transport Scotland, the bus and rail industry, health boards, the enterprise network and other stakeholders.

Through the development of the Regional Transport Strategy and this operating plan, SPT is developing a range of projects and initiatives that will help grow the economy, improve the environment and make travel more accessible, convenient and safe.

Beyond transport related matters, SPT has a role to participate with Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) in the Strathclyde area. This role has resulted in SPT being involved in wide ranging joint planning and joint service delivery including matters related to employment, education, health and security along with its stakeholders. In turn the CPP stakeholders are now making a positive contribution to the preparation of the Regional Transport Strategy. In addition to this work, SPT plans to increase its staffing resources committed to community planning over the next 12 months.

In autumn 2006, SPT aligned its most senior staff to key partners and stakeholders in support of improved partnership working.

Download the SPT area map (jpg format, 183kb, opens a new window).

Download the SPT area map (pdf format, 435kb, opens a new window).

Click here for links to councils within the SPT area.

Under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 all the legal powers, liabilities and functions of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPTA) and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) transferred to the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport on 1 April, 2006.

Although the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 did not abolish either the SPTA or the SPTE, on 1 June, 2007 SPTE was abolished under "The Transfer of Functions, Property, Rights and Liabilities from Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority" Order 2007.

The Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (Constitution, Membership and Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Amendment Order 2007 amended the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (Constitution, Membership and Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Amendment Order 1995 to reduce the authority's membership from 34 to 20 and the councillor number for each council to reflect the membership of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. It is expected that those members appointed to SPTA will correspond to those appointed to SPT.

SPTA responsibilities include:

• For constituent local authorities to continue to nominate members on the basis of the constitution of the SPTA, i.e. 20 members plus substitutes;
• To have an annual meeting;
• To appoint a Chair;
• To appoint a Secretary;
• To appoint a Director General.

The Chair of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is also the Chair of the SPTA.

This is effectively an administrative arrangement until such time as the Scottish Parliament promotes an order to rationalise the situation and abolish the SPTA.

Click here for background to Regional Transport Partnerships and the Legislative Requirements.

Download the RTP map (jpg format, 250kb, opens a new window).

Download the RTP map (pdf format, 4Mb, opens a new window).

Click here for links to other RTPs in Scotland.