Heres some good news;
Department for Transport
North West set for £2.1m share of £15m to kick start bus services
Eight areas in the North West of England are set to receive a share of £15m for bus services announced by Transport Minister Sadiq Khan today.
The Kickstart programme offers financial backing for Passenger Transport Authorities to help launch new or improved services, with the focus on getting more people travelling on buses as well as improving accessibility.
Residents in Stockport, Oldham, Bolton, Salford, Tameside, Wigan, Manchester, Rochdale, Morecambe and Lancaster are all set to benefit from a £2.1milion aggregate share of this second round of Kickstart grants.
Sadiq Khan said:
"Local bus services are the backbone of our transport system and can provide a vital lifeline for communities. We have already strengthened powers for local authorities to improve bus services and regularly invest in local transport schemes which help make bus travel an attractive alternative to the car – cutting congestion and bringing benefits for the environment.
“But some bus services which could provide an important transport link might not always be commercially attractive from the outset. That is why we launched the Kickstart scheme and why I am delighted to announce funding for Greater Manchester and Lancashire in this latest round of grants. This will help fund new and improved bus routes, ensuring local people get the services they need.”
Kickstart is targeted at schemes which have the potential to become successful but which initially might be more marginal in commercial terms and require some financial help to start them off.
Projects which aim to increase bus patronage – leading to a reduction in congestion and benefits to the environment – as well as to improve accessibility and social inclusion were selected for Kickstart funding.
This round of grants also focused on schemes which make use of the new bus powers in the Local Transport Act 2008. Good practice on the use of these new powers will then be shared with other local authorities and operators.
The funding announced today for the North West is:
To Greater Manchester PTA:
• £151,905 for enhanced Service 76 from Oldham to Manchester via Failsworth;
• £171,128 for enhanced Services 322/327 between Stockport and Haughton Green, and Stockport and Denton;
• £340,131 for enhanced Services 664/674 circulars in Wigan;
• £230,000 for enhancement of Service 199 between Stockport and Manchester Airport;
• £382,076 for MediaCityUK Bus/Rail Station Link;
• £401,300 for Rochdale - Oldham- Ashton - Stockport Orbital;
• £117,457 for Sunday daytime frequencies into regional centre from Bolton and Whitefield;
And to Lancashire PTA:
• £359,793 for Bay Link: X12 Morecambe to Lancaster.
