Hampshire County Council has announced plans to spend more than 50 million GBP to improve bus services as part of its Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The plan, which utilises funds provided by the Government, will enable the potential doubling of existing services throughout the county, as well as upgrades at bus stops, bus stations and bus interchanges.
Further improvements are also set to include upgrades to real-time information provisions, bus priority schemes, zero emission bus depot charging availability, community led transport grants, fares initiatives, community transport driver training support and rural bus shelter funds for town and parish councils.
Councillor Lulu Bowerman, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, said:These initiatives are already delivering real improvements to our bus network by making services faster, more frequent and more reliable so that more people choose to travel by bus, more often.
In considering these proposals, my focus will be to ensure that better bus provision doesn’t just make journeys easier; but that it supports our local economy, improves access to jobs and essential services, helps reduce congestion, improves air quality, and gives more people the freedom to live independently.
The proposed investment plan will be considered by the council’s Universal Services Select Committee on 2 March.
