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£12.7million boost for Oxfordshire bus services
10/08/2022
The money will be used on a number of measures aimed at improving bus passenger numbers
£12.7million of cash from the Department for Transport is heading to Oxfordshire to help get people out of their cars and back on to buses.
Oxfordshire County Council secured the money, which will support measures over the next three years, including cheaper fares for under-19s and new rural services. The Council’s plans also include bus priority improvements and proposed traffic filters to reduce journey times.
The funding will also support the introduction of new zero emission electric buses.
Bus passenger numbers in Oxfordshire declined between 2014 and 2019 and were badly hit by the impact of the pandemic.
Working with partners including the bus operators, other local authorities and major employers, the County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is one of a number of measures being brought in to increase passenger numbers.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “In the context of a significantly reduced funding allocation nationwide, with only 40 per cent of BSIPs receiving any money, £12.7m represents a significant boost for bus users in Oxfordshire. It is welcome confirmation from the government that our approach to prioritise public transport is the right one.
“Effective public transport is key to many of our priorities as a council. Combined with many other measures we are working on with our partners, this funding will put us on a positive path to making bus travel more attractive and environmentally friendly than ever before.
“Supporting cheaper travel for young people, including the introduction of a £1 flat fare within Oxford as well as reduced fares for under-19s countywide, is a priority. We want young people to adopt sustainable transport habits which will then stay with them throughout their lives.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Michael Charter On 10/08/2022 at 1:20 pm
Hopefully this will be good news for public transport. My local service is the stagecoach 200 to and from banbury which is under threat due to low passenger numbers which is no doubt driven by high bus prices. It is cheaper to drive 6 miles into banbury and park than using the bus. This is surely wrong public transport has to be priced at a level that makes it uneconomic to use the car.
Stephen Rainsbury On 10/08/2022 at 3:19 pm
This will all go to pet projects within 5 miles of Oxford, and none to the surrounding areas.