Council to be boosted with more than £27.1m for bus improvements

The council was allocated £27,140,451 by the HM Government in October 2024 for the 2025/26 financial year.

At the next Cabinet meeting on Thursday, 6 March, Councillors will be asked to approve a pre-prepared high-level spending plan for the Bus Grant in 2025/26 including Bus Service Improvement Plan revenue and capital funding, as set out in the report. This is subject to Lancashire Combined County Authority decision-making delegating the grant to the Council.

The breakdown of this funding is:

• Bus Service Improvement Plan Revenue: £12,712,250
• Bus Service Improvement Plan Capital: £12,436,932
• Bus Service Improvement Plan Capacity and Capability (C&C): £125,000
• Local Authority Bus Services Operators Grant (LA BSOG): £1,866,269

Councillor Scott Smith, lead member for Highways and Transport said: "We have secured one of the largest sums in the country to improve and develop our bus services.

"Important areas of improvement include the implementation of bus priority measures to enhance service reliability, upgrades to bus stops to improve passenger experience, and initiatives to enhance information and publicity. We will be helping to improve the bus fleet in Lancashire, including supporting bus operators to purchase Zero Emission Vehicles, contributing to environmental sustainability goals.

"Funding will be used to introduce new and enhanced bus services, ensuring a more comprehensive and reliable network alongside supporting services at potential threat of withdrawal. It will also support longer-term network development planning, aiming to create a more efficient and user-friendly bus system.

"Simplifying or reducing fares is another priority, making bus travel more affordable for passengers. This will be done by the continuation of the evening and Sunday fare offer, until 31 December 2025 when the national £3 fare cap is due to end, as well as expanding the Anybus multi-operator ticket to more areas of the county.

"We will also be improving safety and security on buses, enhancing accessibility and information for passengers. We will be able to continue bus stop upgrades including accessibility, new shelters and Real Time Passenger Information.

"We will be working with our District Council colleagues by providing investment for improvements to the public transport network in Lancaster city centre and in West Lancashire, alongside bus station improvements in Cleveleys as part of wider town centre developments. We will also be able to develop proposals for a bus lane on Liverpool Road between Penwortham Triangle and Fishergate Hill, to tie in with A582 highway-related work."