Published Tuesday 29 June 2021 at 11:18
Working with all bus operators and Lancashire County Council, the Council aims to support the Government’s Bus Back Better initiative, working together to create a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) for the borough and the wider region.
Ambitions to improve bus services across Blackburn with Darwen are at the heart of the Council’s intention to enter into an ‘Enhanced Partnership’ with all service providers from April 2022.
This partnership will secure continued access to national emergency funding for the bus sector, through the Government’s Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant, and ensure the authority is eligible for any new sources of funding from the Government’s £3bn National Bus Strategy.
Early engagement has already taken place with operators to ensure a productive partnership can be developed to deliver improvements for passengers.
Blackburn with Darwen’s Executive Member for Growth and Development, Cllr Phil Riley, said: “We recognise the important role buses play in supporting our residents and value the close relationship we have with our local bus operators. This partnership work will form an integral part of the wider thinking and planning for public and private sector transport service priorities in BwD, Pennine and beyond, and we will work with all transport partners to secure incremental improvements.”
The National Bus Strategy aims to transform bus services across the country ensuring buses are easier to understand and use, better co-ordinated and greener. It requires local transport authorities to commit to establishing Enhanced Partnerships, or a Franchise, by the end of June.
The partnerships must be delivered by April 2022 and they are designed so operators can still run services, with improvements delivered through flexible legally-binding negotiations and monitored for performance.
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