City of York Council’s Executive, which is comprised of senior councillors, will be voting on plans for an Enhanced Bus Partnership that could potentially unlock £17.36m in government funding to improve local bus services.
In July 2022, the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed a funding award of £17.36m to the local authority as part of its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The development of the ‘Enhanced Partnership’ is a condition for receiving the BSIP funding.
The council has also been awarded £8.4m in ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) funding, which will reportedly be matched by bus operators.
York was one of two places in the Yorkshire area to be granted indicative BSIP funding, which, once confirmed, will help the council make improvements across bus services and route infrastructure.
Some of the proposed improvements include:
- infrastructure upgrades, including stops, shelters and real-time information screens
- improved ticketing and cheaper fares for young people
- service level improvements
- Park & Ride site upgrades, including overnight parking and better connectivity with other services
- creation of a customer charter to include redress, particularly around late buses and buses which do not run
- measures to improve accessibility, both in terms of physical access and information
- feasibility study of a new shuttle service
- provision of audio-visual announcements on buses and at stops
- an introduction of a protocol, guaranteeing wheelchair users unable to access a space on a bus access to a taxi instead, at no extra fee
- work with the York Bus Forum, representatives of disability groups and other passenger groups to establish of a consultation group on the Enhanced Partnership Forum.
Keith Aspden, councillor and leader of the City of York Council, said: “We’d like to thank everyone for sharing their views on the draft agreement, which will be considered before the improvement programme begins.
“The plans outline a clear and ambitious vision for the future of bus services in the city.
“The funding will help us improve bus services across York to make them more inclusive, accessible and attractive, adapting to new travel patterns and expectations of local residents businesses and visitors.”
