Recommendation 29

The Department should within 18 months develop a dedicated policy and regulatory framework for alternative and complementary public transport models, including Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) and community transport. This framework should include growing and expanding their role in serving poorly connected places and in connecting passengers to fixed- route public transport networks. The framework should include: 51 • clear guidance on DRT governance and a framework for integration with local transport plans; • guidance on providing socially necessary services through a DRT model; • a review of existing funding streams across departments (such as. home-to-school, health, and social care transport) to identify opportunities for coordination and shared use of DRT services; • optional access to nationally procured digital tools (such as routing software or booking platforms) to support local authorities in designing and managing DRT schemes; • guidance on how both community transport and demand-responsive transport providers should be included in Enhanced Partnerships, to support greater collaboration and ensure inclusive planning; and • the exploration of rural mobility models that prioritise improving access to services, rather than simply replicating traditional public transport, including the role of shared or private car use and lift- sharing schemes as part of a flexible, place-based approach. (Recommendation, Paragraph 111)