Setting Up and Developing a Public Transport Authority

26 May - 11 June 2026

10:00 - 12:00 | Europe/Brussels (UTC+1)

Online

Organisers

Europe Global Authorities

Features 8 interactive online sessions including a workshop.

The aim of this training course is to provide attendees with the knowledge and insights necessary to establish and develop empowered transport authorities capable of providing urban areas with the efficient, integrated and expanding public transport they need to meet the wider policy challenges that metropolitan areas face in a rapidly changing world.

The course includes a workshop for attendees to hands-on apply what they learn during each teaching session.

What You Will Learn

What are the benefits of Public Transport Authorities (PTAs)?
What are the options for its legal and financial basis?
How extensive should the powers of a PTA be over different forms of transport?
How best to bring all actors together to make it happen (municipalities, operators, other institutions)?
How can a transport authority realise different sources of funding to expand the services it provides?
How should a transport authority evolve in a fast-changing world – from new mobility formats and business models to climate change, social justice and emerging technologies

Who is it for?

Staff from national ministries of transport, city and metropolitan authorities, and of public agencies with a role in the governance and regulation of public transport
Professionals interested in acquiring a wider perspective on alternative ways to organise the provision of public transport services and on how these services are provided in other cities and countries – this includes participants from local transport authorities, public transport operators and the supply industry.
The course is suitable for both experienced professionals but also for newcomers in the sector.

Why choose an online course?

Interact with public transport professionals from around the world
Time-efficient: 8 sessions over a 3-week timespan
Flexibility to join the sessions from any location in the world – at work or at home

Programme

Welcome & Introduction to the course

10:00 – 10:30

Session 1

Jonathan BRAY, Director, JONATHAN BRAY ADVISORY SERVICES, UK

Understand the wide range of economic, environmental and social benefits
of metropolitan and regional transport
Explore the core transport benefits of empowered transport authorities:
including improved coordination, unified planning, integrated fares, and
seamless customer experience
Discuss the broader benefits of transport authorities including innovation,
cultural identity and capabilities and skills
Review examples of successful authorities and how they improved service
quality, branding, and user satisfaction

Workshop Part A

11:30 – 12:00

End of Day 1

12:00 – 12:00

Session 2

Jonathan BRAY, Director, JONATHAN BRAY ADVISORY SERVICES, UK

Review various governance and organizational models for transport authorities around the world
Understand the implications of different legal and institutional structures – from advisory bodies to full executive authorities
Discuss the challenges of defining geographic coverage and managing overlapping jurisdictions
Analyze approaches to multimodal integration, including roads, rail, and new mobility

Case Study: Different approaches different global contexts

11:00 – 12:00

End of Day 2

12:00 – 12:00

Session 3

Jonathan BRAY, Director, JONATHAN BRAY ADVISORY SERVICES, UK

Examine how climate change imperatives are shaping urban mobility and investment priorities
Understand the transport authority’s role in ensuring fairness, accessibility, and social justice
Discuss the reimagining of urban streets and public spaces for people, not just traffic
Explore how new mobility services, digital technologies, and innovative business models (MaaS, shared mobility, automation) are transforming governance and planning

Workshop Part B

11:00 – 12:00

End of Day 3

12:00 – 12:00

Session 4

Jonathan BRAY, Director, JONATHAN BRAY ADVISORY SERVICES, UK

Explore how to go from proposal to reality – and how to overcome institutional resistance along the way
Learn about how best to communicate the case for change
Discuss issues around staffing and work culture of a new transport authority
Draw lessons from international examples of successful transitions to empowered transport authority

Case Study: Vision and Foresight – How to set up a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)

11:00 – 12:00

End of Day 4

12:00 – 12:00

Session 5

DDVDV

Understand the main formats for public transport provision (including different approaches to contracting)
Explore different contractual mechanisms including performance regimes and monitoring and risk allocation.
Review the record of examples of competitive tendering and their impact on service delivery in different global contexts

Case Study: Bus contractualization

11:00 – 12:00

End of Day 5

12:00 – 12:00

Session 6

Look at the different options for the legal status and funding flows for transport authorities
Explore the diverse ways in which transport authorities fund and expand their operation: including the role of fares revenues, taxation, road user charging, and land value capture
Examine financing tools for major infrastructure projects
Discuss balancing the tradeoffs on fares between affordability, social inclusion, and long-term financial sustainability
Review international examples of innovative funding models and revenue diversification

Workshop Part C

11:00 – 12:00

End of Day 6

12:00 – 12:00

Discover how digitalisation enables integrated ticketing, real-time information, and multimodal travel planning
Understand the different choices authorities can make on the role they want to play in ensuring seamless ticketing and information for travelers – as well as the use of the data they and other players hold.
Learn about the latest thinking on Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and the different roles that authorities can play – from enabler to provider

Explore the rapidly changing landscape of different forms of light mobility (such as e-scooters and e-bikes) and how they are provided by the private and public sector.
Understand the options for transport authorities in providing and/or regulating light mobility
Discuss how ride-hailing and sharing sector is developing and the regulatory role that transport authorities can play
Understand the trade-offs between public safety, innovation, user convenience, equity, and sustainability
Review case examples of new mobility regulation frameworks and lessons learned

End of Day 7

12:00 – 12:00

Analyse the characteristics and challenges of informal transport systems
Discuss the different pathways available for regulation, integration, and professionalization
Review different approaches to the sector in different global contexts

Synthesize key learnings from all sessions
Apply insights through final group exercise and peer discussion
Share takeaways and action plans for setting up or reforming a Public Transport Authority

End of Online Course Programme

12:00 – 12:00

A top-level methodology

Get inspired by our trainers – understand the issues and options for establishing
empowered public transport authorities based on best practice in different global
contexts and meeting today’s challenges.
Participate in interactive sessions – with course trainers and with course participants
Challenge your thinking on what kind of public transport authority would best meet
the needs of the place you work
Address topics and issues from an international perspective, enriched by different
cultural approaches and points of views
Participate in practical exercises ‘in the field’ allowing you to apply the principles
and methods learnt during the training course
Benefit from a unique exchange of knowledge and experience between professionals

UITP Training Programs and all related processes are certified for ISO 21001: 2018 – the standard for Educational organisations – Management systems for educational organisations.

	Until 15 May Register Now	From 16 May Register Now
UITP Member	€625	€850
Non Members	€825	€1,125
UITP Member ‘developing nations’	€475	€650
Non Member ‘developing nations’	€625	€825

Trainers

Jonathan BRAY

Partner

Team Mobility, United Kingdom

Guy LE BRAS

Senior Advisor

Didier VAN DE VELDE

Director at inno-V and Researcher

Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Contact Us

Have a question? Contact our team if you need any additional information on this event.

Sunita KELECOM

Officer – Events Management Unit

Events & Academy Services

UITP Team

Email Sunita

Organisers

Register Now

Secure your place and take part in this training.

What You Will Learn

Who is it for?

Why choose an online course?

Programme

Welcome & Introduction to the course

Benefits of Metropolitan Area transport authorities

Workshop Part A

End of Day 1

Different formats for Metropolitan Area transport authorities

Case Study: Different approaches different global contexts

End of Day 2

Four key contemporary challenges

Workshop Part B

End of Day 3

Transitional issues – The Journey to an Overarching Transport Authority

Case Study: Vision and Foresight – How to set up a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)

End of Day 4

The provision of public transport – formats and tools

Case Study: Bus contractualization

End of Day 5

Funding and Financing

Workshop Part C

End of Day 6

Case Study: Integrating Information and Fares – The Role of PTAs on new technologies

Case Study: New modes and mobility services Mobility Services

End of Day 7

Case Study: Informal Transport – Integrating the Unregulated Sector

Conclusion, discussion and workshop

End of Online Course Programme

A top-level methodology

Pricing

Trainers

Jonathan BRAY

Guy LE BRAS

Didier VAN DE VELDE

Contact Us

Sunita KELECOM

Organisers

Register Now