The UK government has launched four bid-for funds of £170million for bus projects across England in a first stage of delivering the £220million and national bus strategy promised before the December general election.
£70million will be for high frequency, lowfare ‘superbus’ networks supported by bus lanes and other priorities. £50million will allow one town or small city to convert its entire network to electric vehicles.
£30million will be provided in 2020/21 as extra funding for local authorities to improve existing services and restore some of those that have been lost, while a £20million topup fund will encourage the development and trial of on-demand ride sharing services in rural and suburban areas. £2million is being provided for smaller operators to install on-bus audio-visual information.
The Department for Transport (DfT) says the rest of the £220million will be allocated ‘in due course’ and a long-term funding package for the industry will be announced as part of the government’s 2020 spending review.
The ‘superbus’ networks will follow a £23.5million pilot project in Cornwall that starts in May and is intended to improve transport links in one of the UK’s poorest regions, with reduced fares…
