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Cllr Dowd in national hot seat: 12 August 2009; Merseytravel transport chief, Councillor Mark Dowd, has been elected to chair one of the country’s most important transport coalitions.

Councillor Dowd will front the UK Integrated Transport Authorities’ Special Interest Group (ITA SIG).

The ITA SIG is regarded as one of the most influential public transport groups, bringing together all six Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs) in England.

Between them the ITAs have a combined budget of over £1 billion a year and serve more than 11 million people using public transport.

Councillor Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said: “To lead the ITA SIG is an honour and comes at a time when transport is, quite rightly, at the very forefront of demands for public service investment. Connecting people to jobs, family, health, schools and leisure is essential to supporting an economy in recovery and we will continue to push for a better deal for the millions of people who deserve it.

“Collectively, the ITA has some major responsibilities and, as a coalition with the public at its very heart, we will be driving some important campaigns, like making sure grants for concessionary travel comes directly into Merseytravel, that Merseyside get its fair share of government funding, and that, through the Local Transport Act, bus services are improved for the hundreds of thousands of passengers living or visiting Merseyside every year.”

Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside and Chair of the powerful Transport Select Committee, said: “I’m delighted that Councillor Dowd is taking the chair in this important coalition with a powerful voice in the industry. This is a period when strong leadership is essential.”

Joe Benton, MP for Bootle, added: “Mark has a track record of delivering public transport locally, regionally and nationally so no doubt he will be a strong voice representing the interests of the ITAs and of Merseyside.”

Bootle Councillor Mark Dowd has worked in transport since 1960 and been a member of Sefton Council for 27 years.

Mark became a member of Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority at its inception in 1986. He was elected as Vice-Chairman in 1987 and then Chair in 1992.

Merseytravel’s Passenger Transport Authority is made up of 18 councillors from the five districts of Merseyside.; Back to Media Centre