I’ve written previously how the pandemic has seen things some change, including how bus travel patronage has yet to fully return to pre-pandemic levels. In some cases, if bus routes aren’t well-used enough, it can risk reducing frequency or even the entire route altogether.
The Conservative government has been keen to address this. We’ve seen the £2 maximum single fare cap brought in for a three-month period from January until the end of March. Within Crawley this means a typical £2.70 fare saves 70p but for longer out of town journeys such as to East Grinstead or Brighton, the savings are considerable. The government have now extended the £2 price cap for a further three months until the end of June.
More longer-term, last week saw a major boost for bus travel with the announcement that West Sussex County Council has been awarded £17.4million funding by the government for bus service improvements, after making a successful bid.
This is aimed at increasing bus passenger numbers, which in turn can help to support the local economy and reduce traffic congestion. The County Council is working in partnership with the bus companies to try to make bus travel as attractive as possible.
A range of schemes will now be developed, including a discounted concessionary bus travel scheme to encourage young people, aged 16 to 21, to use the buses, the introduction of ‘Tap On – Tap Off’ fare technology across busses operating within the county, and the installation of 300 new Real Time Passenger Information displays at countywide locations, providing electronic display screens.
There will be Improved bus stops at sites across the county, with new poles, flags, hardstanding, disabled access, shelters, seating, lighting and nearby crossing points. We will see improvements to the bus lanes in Station Way in the town centre and to the bus lane priority set up in Manor Royal. Also within Crawley, it is planned to create a new transport hub, that will provide a single place to swap between different modes of public transport. I look forward to seeing the details of all this in due course.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
1st March 2023
