Latest news with #BusNetworkSupportGrant
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Consultation on major revamp of West Midlands bus network closes
A public consultation into major changes to the West Midlands bus network has closed with the results expected to be revealed next month, officials of people took part to share their views on whether the county's services should be brought back into public West Midlands currently has a deregulated bus network led by private operators who control operations, routes, timetables and fares which are kept by for West Midlands (TfWM) said it was now assessing the results, which will be presented to West Midlands Combined Authority's Board (WMCA) which is due to meet on 9 May. The region's mayor, Richard Parker, has said moving from the current private operator-led, deregulated system would give TfWM more control over fares, routes and WMCA currently provides an annual subsidy of around £50m to private operators, but this has failed to stop fare increases and service month the board agreed to an extension of the Bus Network Support Grant, which provides financial support to operators, as a report showed that more than 30% of current commercially operated routes would be put at risk without the funding, while fares would face bigger has said more than 3,000 people had put forward their views on the proposed changes, and a final figure will be provided at next month's meeting."We're still in the process of compiling and analysing the consultation responses, so we're not able to confirm a final figure at this stage," TfWM said."The next step will be for the full results and analysis to be presented in a report to the WMCA Board meeting in May."If a decision is taken to move to a new franchise model, it would take an expected further two years for it to come into effect. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Midlands bus network in extended funding deal
A new funding deal to stop a number of West Midlands bus services being cut has been West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board has green lit an extension of the Bus Network Support Grant which provides financial support to will be extended from 1 to 30 April, with a new arrangement kicking in from 1 May to 31 December. The decision comes amid public consultation events on plans to bring services under public control.A report to the board revealed last month, that more than 30% of current commercially-operated routes would be put at risk without the funding, while fares would face bigger hikes. West Midlands mayor Richard Parker dismissed claims that the network was "failing", although he has pledged to introduce a franchising system – to replace the current deregulated model – which would bring control of the routes, timetables and fares back under public a meeting on Friday, Mr Parker said the authority provided about £50m in grants a year to operators, but despite the funding, bus fares had increased while services had been reduced."Tens of thousands of our residents rely on our bus network every day to get to school, college and work, and access essential services like doctors' appointments," he told the meeting."But our bus network isn't working for our residents. And this annual round of negotiations, to agree funding to prop up a failing system, is exactly why we need a better solution to how we run our buses."That's why we are taking steps to bring the service under greater public control and ensure it remains affordable and accessible to everyone."Under the proposal, WMCA body Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) would set bus fares, timetables and routes, while awarding contracts to private bus operators to run those consultation has attracted more than 3,000 responses before the 30 March deadline to respond. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Midlands bus funding deal due ahead of franchising decision
A new funding deal to stop a number of West Midlands bus services being cut is expected to be agreed later this Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) board is expected to approve an extension of the Bus Network Support Grant which provides financial support to operators.A report to the committee said more than 30% of current commercially-operated routes would be put at risk without the funding, while fares would face bigger agreed, the deal would be extended from 1 April to 30 April before a new arrangement from 1 May to 31 December. Public consultation events on plans to bring the region's bus services under public control are currently being the model, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) would set bus fares, timetables and routes, while awarding contracts to private bus operators to run those Midlands mayor Richard Parker said the authority provided about £50m in grants a year to operators and under a franchise model it would cost £22.5m over three years. A decision is expected in month a WMCA report stated distances travelled by buses on the West Midlands network were decreasing, with the number of kilometres travelled over the past 14 years dropping from more than 173 million in 2010 to about 115 million last funding deal report said operators had been financially supported through national and local funding to maintain their commercial bus networks since the start of the coronavirus franchising: What does it mean for passengers?"Without this funding, operators have indicated that up to 33.6% of all commercially-operated local bus services could be at risk from 1 April 2025 and that fares would increase by between 20 and 25% giving rise for further cost pressures on some of the most vulnerable residents within the region."The business case for continued support of the bus network sets out that over 33% of commercial bus mileage remains at risk of de-registration."This is a reduction from 36% in June 2023."The funding agreement was required to prevent operators from registering service reductions to take effect from 28 April and to continue to adhere to the index linked fares review mechanism in the West Midlands Enhanced Partnership, the report added."To do this the WMCA board is requested to approve the continued use of Network Support Grants for the period from 1 April to 31 December inclusive during which time the WMCA board will make further recommendations leading to a mayoral decision regarding Bus Franchising in May 2025." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
