West Sussex County Council has announced a successful bid worth £17.4m to the UK government for funding to improve local bus services.
The council has said the fresh cash injection will help support the local economy and reduce traffic congestion, in alignment with its social and environmental objectives.
Joy Dennis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The £17.4m Department for Transport (DfT) funding is excellent news for the whole of the county – and bus passengers in particular.
“We are working in partnership with the bus companies to do all we can to try to make bus travel as attractive as possible, help increase passenger numbers and thereby make it easier for people to get to essential services, shops and businesses, education and leisure facilities and to leave cars at home in favour of this more sustainable way to travel.”
A series of route upgrades have now been given the green light, including:
- A scheme to offer discounted fares to young people, aged 16 to 21
- Introduction of tap on and off contactless fare technology across county bus services
- Installation of 300 new real time information displays at countywide locations
- Improved bus stops at countywide sites with updated poles, flags, hardstanding, disabled access, shelters, seating, lighting and nearby crossing points
- Bus lane renovations
- The development of a new transport hub in Crawley to provide better connected public transport links.
