A PLAN to increase bus use in West Yorkshire by six per cent in four years will be sent to Government later this month.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan includes a pledge to pay customers' taxi fares if the final bus service of the day is cancelled, and that the maximum cost of a day's bus travel be capped at £5.50.

Other pledges include creating a greener bus fleet and making changes to West Yorkshire's roads to give buses better priority.

The plan will be discussed at a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority on Friday.

Having such a plan is a condition of future Government funding to support bus recovery from the Pandemic.

The plan seeks to reduce average bus journey times by five per cent in the next four years, and by 10 per cent by 2030 by enabling buses to move through traffic more freely. It also aims to improve bus punctuality to 90 per cent by March 2025, up from 82 per cent in March 2019.

The plan also aims is for more bus routes to operate every 15 minutes or more frequently.

More early morning and evening services are also planned.

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Improvements to bus stations in Halifax, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Dewsbury are also planned, as well as improvements to bus lanes and bus ‘priority’ on West Yorkshire’s roads.

The plan also contains a new passenger charter that includes a journey satisfaction guarantee. If passengers are not happy with the service, they receive their money back or their next journey for free.

The charter will include a ‘last journey promise.’ where, if the final bus service of the day on a route is late or cancelled, taxi fares will be reimbursed.

A “tap and go” system will be introduced next year which means passengers are charged the best price for their journey and never more than this daily cap. The MCard Mobile app introduced earlier this year will be expanded to enable people to plan journeys, buy bus tickets and obtain live travel information throughout the West Yorkshire bus network. West Yorkshire’s BSIP has a commitment to a carbon-zero bus fleet by 2036, and all buses will be Euro VI or zero emission by 2026.

The BSIP also contains details of an Enhanced Safer Travel West Yorkshire partnership with West Yorkshire Police, to make bus travel safer for everyone, including women and girls. This will include enhanced lighting and CCTV at bus stops. All customer facing staff, including drivers and customer service teams will also receive enhanced training to ensure the highest quality service is provided.

Completing the plan will allow the Combined Authority to bid for a share of £3 billion from the Department for Transport. Following the submission of the plan at the end of this month, confirmation of funding is expected in early 2022.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Our new, ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan is a major step towards my pledge to bring buses back under public control, introduce simpler fares, contactless ticketing and safer, greener buses.

“The plan has a clear focus on the passenger and the experience they should expect when they travel. We want buses to be the first choice for travel in West Yorkshire - not because you don’t have a car, but because they’re more affordable, convenient to use, and better for the environment. 

“This plan will also contribute to inclusive growth and improving travel safety for women and girls.

“I am determined that this Bus Service Improvement Plan pushes us to deliver the ambitions within it. I will continue to listen to the public across West Yorkshire who rely on our local public transport system, to make sure the plan is working for them and delivers the change to buses that they want to see.”