On March 10, 2025, the LBJ School had the honor of hosting Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, as part of our Meet the Mayors series, which aims to give a platform to the mayors who are actively shaping the cities of tomorrow. During the event, Urban Lab Director Steven Pedigo engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with Mayor Burnham, focusing on several key topics including improving public transportation, economic growth, the Austin-Manchester sister city partnership and the broader role of mayors in addressing global challenges.
A large portion of the conversation focused on Greater Manchester's dedication to enhancing public transportation to foster economic growth and improve the quality of life for residents. Mayor Burnham spoke about dire situation that transportation was in when he took office, noting that transit ridership had been halved due to unchecked deregulation by Margaret Thatcher. Mayor Burnham spearheaded the creation of the Bee Network, an integrated transport initiative designed to enhance connectivity across Greater Manchester. It aims to provide seamless travel options, combining buses, trams, and cycling routes to create a cohesive network. This system not only focuses on improving public transport efficiency but also promotes sustainable travel, making it easier for residents and visitors to navigate Manchester while reducing reliance on cars. Because of Mayor Burnham's commitment, within his first term, Greater Manchester saw the first year of ridership growth in 40 years, since Thatcher's deregulations.
Pedigo and Burnham also explored the broader responsibilities of mayors in confronting global issues such as social inequality, public health and climate change. When reflecting on his tenure as mayor, Andy Burnham identified his greatest disappointment as the challenge of improving air quality. Although the Greater Manchester transit system is on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2038, he believes his original approach was flawed, as they proposed "clean air zones" that would have taxed high-emission drivers, such as van operators. Burnham felt that cleaning up the air people breathe was a priority for Greater Manchester but that charging was not the best way forward. Speaking about achieving net zero, mayor Burnham said:
"I don't think you get to net 0 by lecturing; you get there with carrots not sticks. You get there with cheap public transit. You get to net 0 by lowering the cost of living for ordinary citizens." - Mayor Andy Burnham
