West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee has discussed the next steps to bring forward proposed reforms to the region’s bus services.
Since its last meeting in March, the Combined Authority has launched an Enhanced Partnership with district council and local bus operators, with the aim of reforming single and multi-operator day tickets from September 2022.
At its latest meeting last week (27 May 2022), Transport Committee examined the next steps in bus reform in West Yorkshire, including options for franchising.
It also examined ways to reconnect communities affected by cuts to local services by protecting existing services and developing new routes.
Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Bringing buses back under local control, introducing simpler fares, contactless ticketing and greener buses’ is one of my pledges.
“Acting boldly through our Enhanced Partnership will allow us to cap single bus fares to a maximum of £2 from September, as well as reduce the multi-operator, multi-journey WY DaySaver from £5.50 to £4.50 when bought with the MCard app or smartcard.
“We’ll also be investing over £25m to develop new bus routes to reconnect those communities left isolated by recent service changes, particularly in our towns and villages, to help people reach health and leisure services, work and learning opportunities, and to see family and friends. Our consultations on which new and existing routes to support will begin next month.”
A Notice of Intent to conduct an assessment of a franchising scheme was issued by the Combined Authority in June 2021, as part of its programme of bus reform and in line with mayor Brabin’s pledge to bring buses back under local control.