Bus partnership is designed to improve services for residents in city

Yesterday senior councillors in the city agreed steps to improve services.

Coun Dave Merrett, York Council’s cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability, has considered proposals on how the council can work with local bus operators to improve services and yesterday proposals were agreed to strengthen the relationship between York Council and bus operators and a new approach to improving bus services.

The council secured £2.9m from the Department of Transport (DfT) in March after a successful bid for Government cash. This was matched by £1.6m from the councils Economic Infrastructure Fund, and local bus operator contributions, with an overall value, for the programme, of approximately £6m.

New agreements will be put in place between the council and all bus operators in York. A part of the new agreement proposes to establish a policy statement that will clearly set out the council’s expectations of bus operators, including ticketing, vehicle standards and emissions and passenger information, and a review of the bus network to improve its coverage of the city. The statement will also cover the authority’s commitment to improving bus services and facilities.

This will include the council considering the future development of a bus station in York city centre, as well as improving road layouts and ensuring car parking is priced to ensure the costs of bus and car are competitive.

Coun Merrett, said: “These proposals will help to build on our existing relationship with local bus operators to drive improvements on York’s bus network.

“The council’s aim is to significantly increase the number of bus passengers in York by 2015. Working with all bus operators in York to improve bus services will help to achieve this.”

Grave concerns have been expressed over air quality in York despite ongoing attempts to tackle pollution blackspots on the city’s roads network.

Studies have revealed that pollution has been linked to an estimated 158 premature deaths in York every year.