Young will only pay 80p a trip on buses and trams

BUS AND tram fares for young people in South Yorkshire will be set at 80p a journey and this will now extend to those up to the age of 21.

Transport bosses in the Sheffield City Region said the pandemic had placed a ‘disproportionate impact’ on young people and ‘additional targeted, time sensitive support’ is being proposed during the recovery period.

The policy will come into force on June 21 and will run for a year. It is likely to be discussed at a later stage to see if it can run past the initial 12 months.

The policy will cost around £6.7m to the mayoral combined authority and this will be funded from funding from Government and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) resources.

Transport bosses said the policy will aim to strengthen the ability of younger people to access jobs and training and increase the numbers of under-21s using public transport.

The policy will also aim to support the region’s net zero carbon ambitions and ‘accelerate the reopening of the economy’ by encouraging more people to travel into town and city centres to access services and other leisure and hospitality venues.

Fiona Boden, of Sheffield City Region, said: “It is proposed to extend the existing 11-18 year old young persons’ concession through to include all those age 21 and under, entitling them to pay an 80p single fare.

“The introduction of this oneyear extended concession should coincide with the end of social distancing restrictions in the summer; subject to the successful completion of the design and implementation steps, working in conjunction with partners, including operators.”