Local buses to get boost from government funding

Local bus services are to get an £11m boost following a government announcement of funding to deliver "London-style buses" across England.

The additional funding will allow continued development of the county's Bus Service Improvement Plan, which has allowed the bus network to grow and develop over the last three years. During that time, investment of £29.7million has resulted in significant improvements including new services, more frequent buses, changes to fares and ticketing, and updates to customer information points and bus shelters.

Hertfordshire has seen an 18% increase in residents travelling by bus since 2022, according to figures provided by the DfT.

The government is expected to unveil a new Buses Bill in the near future, which could give local transport authorities new powers to take control of bus services.

Under the plans, local authorities would be allowed to introduce a London-style franchising system, meaning they can decide routes, timetables and fares, with operators bidding to run the services for a fixed fee.

The government has also pledged to remove a ban on publicly owned bus companies.

Buses remain the most relied on form of public transport and the government is turning the tide on decades of failed deregulation. The Buses Bill will be introduced in the coming weeks and will give local leaders across England greater control to deliver bus services in a way that suits the needs of their communities. Local authorities will be empowered to deliver modern and integrated bus networks that put passengers at the heart of local decision making.

:: Department for Transport

Hertfordshire County Council issued a statement, saying: "Hertfordshire County Council welcomes the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding for next year that has been announced today.  The County Council will be working with the Department for Transport on the conditions of the funding and then reviewing the county’s position on supporting bus services in Hertfordshire."

Cllr Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council said: "The Bus Service Improvement Plan has provided a focus on increased services, better journey times and reliability for passengers. Improvements to the bus network also lead to more opportunities for residents who want to combine their journeys with walking and cycling.

"It's pleasing to see that a further £11million of BSIP funding has just been announced for Hertfordshire, which will allow us to continue with the developments that have been put in place over the last three years.

"We are keen to build on what we have achieved and encourage more of our residents to give bus travel a try or make it part of their usual routine for business or leisure. Working with our partners we remain committed to making Hertfordshire a cleaner, greener and healthier county and public transport is at the heart of those plans."