‘Bold’ bus reforms for west of Scotland approved
Plans that could see buses in the west of Scotland brought back under public control have been approved as part of moves to tackle "a declining bus market".
Strathclyde Partnership for T ran sport(s pt) agreed to begin work on establishing local bus franchising in line with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 at a meeting yesterday.
SPT said franchising is a proven model for delivering local bus services throughout Europe, and that it can significantly improve networks, lead to more passengers and boost accessibility.
The organisation said the process will cost up to £15 million and could take between five and seven years to establish.
It was also recommended that SPT, along with its partners, should progress with the bus service improvements partnership( B SIP) arrangements to provide a basis to curb the decline in passenger numbers.
SPT chairman and SNP councillorfor go van stephen do rn an said: "This is a bold and ambitious plan from SPT which sets a strong approach to tackle a declining bus market.
"It gives us opportunities to build for growth and deliver a network that is attractive, accessible and affordable to both passengers in our communities who rely on the bus to get around, and those who we need to get 'on board' by offering an attractive alternative to the private car.
"However, any franchising option will take time and investment to establish so we need to look at doing something now to halt the declining bus market.
"B sips, which also require suitable investment, offer the best opportunity for a significant, interim improvement while we work to establish the worldclass local bus franchise model the people of the west of Scotland deserve."
Local services franchising is a system that allows a local transport authority to award exclusive rights to an operator to run certain bus services for a set period of time.
SPT board papers state the local transport authority must first put in place a franchise framework setting out what local services are to be provided, the standards to which the services are to be provided, and any additional facilities or services that are to be provided.
Under this franchise framework, the local transport authority enters into franchise agreements with bus operators, awarded through competitive processes, to deliver the specified services and standards.
SPT vice-chairman Alan Moir, Scottish Labour councillor for Bishopbriggs South, said: "The preferred options presented by SPT today have the potential to revolutionise local bus services in the west of Scotland to the clear benefit of bus passengers and local communities."
Fellow vice-chairman David Wilson, Conservative councillor for Inverclyde East, said: "Delivery of a competitive franchisingmodel, as proposed, has the potential to harness the best aspects of the public and private sector collaboration in delivery of local bus services."
SPT is urging people to respond to its consultation on the plans, which will launch in April.
This is a bold and ambitious plan from SPT which sets a strong approach to tackle a declining bus market Stephen Dornan