Up to £23.6 million from the Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) has
been awarded to tackle the negative impact of congestion on bus
services.
The Fund supports local authorities, in partnership with bus
operators, to implement bus priority measures such as bus
lanes, guided busways and traffic light prioritisation – making
services quicker, more reliable and more attractive as an
alternative to the car.
The eight partnerships awarded funding in the first round
include 27 local authorities across Scotland. They are now
expected to respond to the 100% funding with match in kind
investment from partners - for example through ticketing or
fare offers, parking restraint measures or investment in bus
fleets - so that the impact of the investment is maximised to
further improve the experience of bus users.
Minister for Transport, said:
“I’m really pleased to announce the first awards from our Bus
Partnership Fund as we work hard to secure Scotland’s green
recovery from COVID-19.
“We continue to provide significant amounts of emergency
funding to enable bus operators to continue to run services
through the pandemic, but it’s equally important that we look
to the future and the vital role investment of this kind will
have in our response to the climate emergency.
“Each of the partnerships awarded funding are focused on
delivering outcomes for bus users and the environment, and I
now need them to step up and channel that ambition into
matching our investment in kind, to place bus priority at the
heart of our sustainable transport future and provide that
positive alternative that will mean people use their cars less.
Only then can we achieve our world-leading climate goals.”
Director for the Confederation of Passenger Transport in
Scotland, said:
“It is fantastic to see the first awards from the Bus
Partnership Fund being awarded. CPT operator members remain
committed to working with local authorities to tackle
congestion, improve services and provide a sustainable,
reliable, accessible, and attractive public transport network.
“Fostering stronger partnerships between operator and local
authorities, facilitated by the Bus Partnership Fund, will be
central to meeting the objectives of the National Transport
Strategy and government targets such as a 20% reduction in car
kilometres by 2030. CPT looks forward to engaging with
Transport Scotland to ensure the further rounds of the fund are
delivered successfully and put to good use across Scotland.”
Background
The 2020 Programme for Government reaffirmed the Scottish
Government’s commitment to providing over £500m long-term
investment to deliver targeted bus priority measures on local
and trunk roads.
The Bus Partnership Fund
will complement the new powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act
2019, enabling local transport authorities, in partnership with
bus operators, to work together to develop and deliver
ambitious bus priority schemes
to tackle the negative impacts of congestion on bus services.
The Fund will be guided by the evidence on how bus services
will be improved by addressing congestion, but we also expect
the Fund to leverage other bus service improvements making bus
a more attractive option to many which will in turn help tackle
the climate emergency, reduce private car use and support modal
shift.
This initial tranche of funding is for quick wins and appraisal
work to support local transport authorities towards developing
business cases which will detail how the investment will
achieve strategic objectives; at both the national and local
levels. The aim is that the BPF will fund projects which will
make a real difference; supported by match in kind action and
investment. Further funding will be released after scrutiny
against the Fund criteria is satisfied.
Quick wins include plans to make permanent some of the
temporary infrastructure brought forward through the Bus
Priority Rapid Deployment Fund subject to due process.
The Fund is also open for a second round of bids, closing in
October.
