Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Paragraph: 44
The publication of the National Bus Strategy was greeted with enthusiasm across the country, but...
Conclusion
The publication of the National Bus Strategy was greeted with enthusiasm across the country, but this has dissipated in the many areas which received no funding to put their ambitious plans into action. Allowing roughly half the country to miss out risks entrenching, and in some cases creating, a two-tier system in which bus services improve in one area while, across an invisible county border, they worsen or even disappear. Without further rounds of funding this ‘national’ Strategy will barely scratch the surface.
Government Response Summary
The government has commissioned a Bus Transformation evaluation to understand which interventions improve bus services, assess the impact and effectiveness of BSIPs and wider bus investments, and identify best practices, with final findings due in March 2025.
Paragraph Reference:
44
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government has noted this recommendation. In August 2022 we commissioned the Bus Transformation evaluation. This includes the delivery of programme level monitoring and process, impact and value for money evaluation of initiatives implemented through Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). The contract also includes evidence synthesis, analysis and reporting of wider monitoring and evaluation of activities that sit under the National Bus Strategy. The evaluation aims to: • Understand which interventions improve bus services, where, when and how • Build a comprehensive understanding of the impact and effectiveness of BSIPs and wider bus investments • To identify best practice and lessons learnt • Assess the extent to which the National Bus Strategy meets its objectives. The contract is due to end in March 2025. We will publish the final findings and, where possible, will publish and share learnings with external stakeholders at the interim stages. The 2021 Spending Review set out that over £1 billion of transformational funding would be available for implementation of Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). This funding has now been fully allocated.