This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Buses take fast track to future
21/04/2004
A new £18 million fund has been set up to improve the
quality and frequency of local bus services and make public
transport more attractive to people across Scotland.
The Bus Route Development Scheme will provide financial
support for up to three years for new or improved bus
routes which have the potential to grow.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen made the announcement
today at the Confederation of Passenger Transport's annual
conference at Turnberry in Ayrshire.
He said:
"Buses are far and away the most used form of public
transport. Better bus services are time and time again top
of passengers' concerns. This new £18 million fund will
help to kick start major improvements to Scotland's bus
services and new routes.
"We have already made significant investment in park and
ride schemes and other bus priority measures across
Scotland. Research has shown that bus passenger numbers are
now increasing steadily each year but we want to do more to
build on that.
"Bus operators need to be encouraged to start new
services and improve frequency, quality and reliability. We
want local authorities and bus operators to work together
to develop new local services to encourage more people onto
our buses."
By the end of 2006, Scottish Executive spending on
transport will reach £1 billion per year, of which 70 per
cent will be targeted on public transport.
Bus Route Development Grant is a section 70 transport
grant with the aim of providing financial support for up to
three years to aid the development of new and existing
registered local bus services which have the potential for
growth. The purpose of the grant is to improve public
transport, encourage modal shift and reduce congestion.
The concept of providing three-year funding to develop
routes is in line with the Kick Start proposal developed by
Stagecoach Group to pump prime specific bus improvement
projects.
Bids for projects to start in 2004-05 must be identified
by local authorities in conjunction with bus operators.
The Bus and Coach Statistics 2002-03 show that the
number of passengers on local bus services in Scotland has
risen for the fourth consecutive year. There were 445
million passenger journeys recorded in 2002-03 in Scotland,
up 1 per cent on the previous year.