A PLAN to improve bus services in Warwickshire is soon set to be finalised and residents are being urged to give their feedback.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) reacted to the government’s National Bus Strategy by producing the county’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The plan set out improvements needed to transform bus services in the county, while also supporting WCC’s bid to central Government for a £150million share of the £3billion funding available to local authorities to help boost bus travel by 2025.
The plan was developed collaboratively with local bus operators following engagement with the local community and other partners.
This included a county-wide survey with more than 1,500 responses, engagement with user groups and interviews with stakeholders.
The initial targets set in the Warwickshire BSIP focus on increasing passenger satisfaction, achieving passenger growth, improving punctuality and reducing journey times.
WCC and the bus operators have worked on an Enhanced Partnership (EP) Plan and schemes based on the content of the Warwickshire BSIP. The EP Plan has to be agreed by the beginning of April.
If agreed, the programme of high and medium priority schemes will be delivered within a three-year timeframe.
When finalised, the Enhanced Partnership Plan arising from the Warwickshire BSIP aims to include fully integrated bus services with more frequent and reliable services and a better fleet of buses, together with the availability of simple multi bus operator tickets, and ‘tap in tap off’ fare payment to make travel simpler.
WCC transport spokesman Coun Wallace Redford said: “Warwickshire can achieve great things when we work together.
“We’ve worked in partnership with local bus operators to produce an ambitious plan for our bus services which we hope will enable us to deliver a reliable, sustainable and reasonably priced bus service for local people that can support our retail and leisure economy and help people get to work.
“The pandemic has put our public transport network under strain and passenger levels are below where they should be. By delivering the plans outlined in the BSIP, we will improve our air quality and encourage more people to travel in a sustainable way.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/bdhf9dt2 for full details of the Warwickshire BSIP.
People can have their say at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ask until February 1.
