The government has announced that significant funding is being committed to support bus improvements around the country.
Investment worth £955 million will be used to deliver growth across the UK, with every region set to benefit. This will be done through two different funding streams, for local authorities and bus operators. Local authorities around the country, especially those in historically underserved areas, will benefit from £712 million, whilst the further £243 million will be given to bus operators to keep fares lower and services running frequently.
Areas such as Leicester, Torbay, the Isle of Wight, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to receive unprecedented amounts of funding for buses.
The way that funding will be allocated is also being reformed, with it being allocated based on how much the area needs the investment, the levels of deprivation, and population. This will remove the competition element of the funding, which has led to wasted resources and delayed decisions in previous years.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh commented:
“Buses are the lifeblood of communities, but the system is broken. Too often, passengers are left waiting hours for buses that don’t turn up – and some have been cut off altogether.
“That’s why we’re reforming funding to deliver better buses across the country and end the postcode lottery of bus services.
“And it’s why we’re providing over £1bn of funding to keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services.
“This is part of our wider plan to put passengers first and give every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership.
“By delivering better buses, we’ll ensure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities – powering economic growth in every corner of the country.”
Some of the areas that will be receiving the largest investment are:
- Lancashire - £27 million
- Kent - £23 million
- Liverpool City Region - £21 million
- South Yorkshire - £17 million
- Essex - £17 million
- Norfolk - £15 million
On top of the £955 million that has been committed to improving and maintaining bus services around the country, the government has already invested £150 million to cap fares at a maximum price of £3, as well as an inflationary limit. This will help to support people with the cost of living and the everyday cost of travelling.
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