Initial bids to Transport Scotland’s Bus Partnership Fund across the SEStran area have been successful. The bids, submitted by lead authorities on behalf of the City Region Deal authorities, Forth Valley Bus Alliance, and Fife Bus Partnership, will bring a total of £4.28 million to the region to initiate appraisal work on proposed improvements, with a further bid from the Fife Bus Partnership still to be confirmed.
The Bus Partnership Fund supports local authorities, in partnership with bus operators and other partners, 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.
SEStran has contributed to the development of all the bids, together with bus operators, local authorities, and the Bus Users’ Group. The next steps in the process will be the appointment of consultaants to carry out the appraisal work, and the formation of formal Bus Service Improvement Partnerships.
Other partnerships are in the process of being formed elsewhere in the region to bid for the second round of funding in October, and SEStran is also assisting them.
Cllr Gordon Edgar, Chair of SEStran, said ‘We’re delighted to see Transport Scotland’s continued investment in bus passenger transport. It’s very encouraging that the Bus Partnerships in the south east will be benefiting from the Fund in this way. We look forward to working with our partners to take the projects forward to the next stage.’
