Cabinet to discuss bus improvement plans

A plan underlining our commitment to improving public transport and connecting rural communities is set to be discussed by West Northamptionshire Council's Cabinet.

The Enhanced Bus Partnership Plan (EPP) sets out the high level vision and objectives for bus services over the next three years, showing how we will work with partner organisations to ensure they are delivered reliably, efficiently, and affordably.

Building on our existing Bus Service Improvement Plan published last October, the EPP would put in place binding commitments on the Council and our partners to provide the necessary improvements to make buses more attractive and easier to use.

Shaped by feedback from a public consultation held last September, its aims include:

• Faster and more reliable journey times
• The introduction of newer, cleaner, more environmentally-friendly buses
• Simpler fares and smart ticketing
• Improvements to networks, including links to visitor attractions
• Better real-time information to make it easier for passengers to plan and use the network.

Cabinet will decide whether to introduce the plan at their meeting next Tuesday, 12 April.

As part of the on-going work to implement the bus service improvement plan, we will also consider our approach to bus subsidies over the coming months.

Buses have a big role to play in providing people with an alternative option to the car, but in order to encourage people to take the bus, we must provide a reliable, efficient and affordable network that meets the needs of our communities and that can be easily used by everyone – whether they are regular bus users or not.

The Enhanced Bus Partnership Plan sets out how we plan to work with our partners to deliver that for the people of West Northamptonshire, and would play a big part in our plans to improve public transport across the area.Cllr Phil Larratt, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Transport, Highways, and Waste Services