Worcestershire County Council has submitted three bids to the UK Department of Transport to support its strategic transport plan.
The requests for investment are for the government’s rural mobility fund, all-electric bus town scheme, and for a portion of the Covid-19 emergency active travel fund.
The rural mobility fund focuses on demand responsive transport, a hybrid between conventional local bus services and bespoke community transport.
The all-electric bus town scheme will enable the council to explore measures that can contribute to lower emissions and study the opportunities that a so-called ‘Electric Bus Town’ would bring to residents.
Councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I look forward to seeing if we are successful in our bids, which are innovative and ambitious, and will in particular encourage bus use for all our residents, including those in the more isolated parts of Worcestershire.”
If successful the bids will enable Worcestershire residents to access a wider range of journeys with more flexibility and increased access to destinations.
From the Covid-19 emergency active travel fund, £1.35m would be allocated in two phases, the first for the immediate response as part of recovery and the second to support more long-term objectives.
According to Worcestershire County Council, its key priorities include transport infrastructure, technology and services to tackle congestion and increase travel choice.
These bids will complement Worcestershire’s Passenger Transport Strategy (LTP4), which is to support all forms of passenger transport.
Read more from CiTTi
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/dft-reveals-emergency-active-travel-fund-local-authority-allocations/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/manchester-submits-cycling-and-walking-bids/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/coventry-announces-active-travel-schemes/
