Vision for public transport outlined in improvement plan
The BSIP needs to be submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by 12 June as a condition of receiving £2,209,623 in BSIP phase 2 funding that has been allocated to the county council.
The BSIP outlines Gloucestershire’s vision for bus services and how to deliver it, in partnership with transport service operators and others. It aims to increase bus use through wide-ranging service improvements across the county.
The BSIP’s objectives include faster and more reliable bus services, more attractive fares and ticketing, better vehicles, a more comprehensive network and ensuring buses are at the heart of an integrated transport system serving the needs of everyone in Gloucestershire.
A report going to cabinet on Wednesday (15 May) says that the delivery of the BSIP will be measured against six targets – bus journey times, reliability, passenger numbers, network accessibility, vehicle quality and customer satisfaction.
Improvements planned for 2024-25 include enhancing a number of bus services, with a focus on weekend and evening extensions. The bookable bus service, The Robin, is also expanding into three new areas: South Cotswolds, Berkeley Vale and Tewkesbury District.
Furthermore, 58 electric buses will be ordered by January 2025, following the award of nearly £6million by the DfT towards the funding of Zero Emission Buses. As a result, more than 20 per cent of Gloucestershire’s buses will be electric, helping to meet the county’s carbon emission targets.
Other improvements include continuing to develop transport hubs, providing 50 new bus shelters, providing more Real Time Information (RTI) display boards, reviewing existing infrastructure, continued development of a bus priority programme and implementing a passenger charter.
Cabinet is being recommended to approve the BSIP for publication and submission to the DfT by 12 June, subject to any amendments being required.
Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member with responsibility for buses, said: “We want buses to be at the heart of an attractive, affordable and integrated transport system and our Bus Service Improvement Plan 2024 outlines this vision. The publication of the BSIP will enable us to access a second year of funding from the Department for Transport, so we can deliver yet more improvements across the network. We are committed to making bus services more reliable and appealing, as buses are a sustainable way to travel that will help us meet our carbon emission targets.”
Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “Local people deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. I'm delighted to have worked alongside the local council and local MPs to give Gloucestershire County Council over £2 million to boost its bus services this year.
“It’s great to see the local council set out its vision to improve local bus services by bringing faster and more reliable buses while delivering cheaper and simpler fares, so that local residents can get around by bus more easily and with greater peace of mind.”
You can read the full cabinet report here.