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Bus Back Better update

Here is the link for Somerset’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. Go to the following link and scroll to “The full Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)” https://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/transport-strategy/#The-National-Bus-Strategy-2021:-Bus-Back-Better

The above YouTube video gives you access to the full meeting that received the consultation update in November 2021.

  • The Bus Back Better group have applied for £163 million to improve bus services in the county.
  • Running an existing bus costs around £150k p.a. and a small electric midi/mini bus is around £225,000 based on a fleet in Brighton.
  • Private occupancy singe cars are a challenge.  Somerset currently has a 1% usage by bus and 84% by car.
  • Somerset is the 2nd worst county for bus use in the country.
  • It is likely that rural services will not get much improvement as they are concentrating on improving major routes where there is more likelihood of creating a sustainable service to continue after the grant money has run out.   However there is a project looking at ‘demand services’.
  • Starting a bus service route where there is none is very difficult.