PASSENGERS REMINDED TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON SOUTH YORKSHIRE BUS PLANS

Published 17 February 2022 at 4:30pm

Passengers in South Yorkshire are being reminded to help shape plans for the region’s bus system before a public consultation closes this weekend.

The ambitious proposals include free travel for under 18s and capped fares for all passengers, bus priority measures to make journeys quicker, better journey planning information, ‘turn up and go’ bus options, and zero emission buses to make travel cleaner and greener towards a net-zero future.

Director of Public Transport Operations, Tim Taylor, said:

“We’ve heard what people told us in the Bus Review and have set out a bold roadmap to bus reform in response. We are now asking local people to work with us to shape future plans for tickets, routes and services that better meet local needs. 

“The commitment to deliver the Enhanced Partnership is a vital first step to provide workers and families who rely on public transport with a fundamentally better bus service, unlocking greater powers for passengers and local leaders to work with operators to create the bus network South Yorkshire deserves.

“Our  plans can be the catalyst for the step-change in local buses we all want to see, to tackle the systemic problems facing passengers, and help to rebuild regional public transport following Covid-19.” 

South Yorkshire’s bus improvement plans follow approval by the Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to develop an Enhanced Partnership in response to the National Bus Strategy (Bus Back Better), a central plank of the government’s levelling-up policy. The £3 billion of funding which Bus Back Better promised for local transport authorities has since been slashed in half.

The Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme would form a legally binding agreement between SYMCA and local bus operators to deliver the actions set out in South Yorkshire’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. Other bus governance models are available to the Mayor and the MCA to deliver the BSIP, including franchising.

SYMCA is due to decide whether to undertake an assessment of a proposed franchising scheme on 4 March.

People can read about plans for the Enhanced Partnership and take part in the consultation at https://southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/South-Yorkshire-Enhanced-Partnership until 20 February 2022.

Consultation forms are available in an alternative format on request from Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or from Travel South Yorkshire Interchange Customer Service Desks.