Hundreds of people have rushed to have their say on plans for a major revamp of how buses are run in the West Midlands. A formal consultation on a proposal to move the region’s bus network to a franchise model from the current private operator led deregulated system was launched last week.
And members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny committee were told 388 people had already given their views in just one week. The consultation, which started on January 6, will run until March 30 and it is hoped thousands of passengers, residents, businesses and organisations will take part.
This will take place through an online consultation, peer to peer researchers speaking to certain groups, school and college tool-kits for 16-19-year-olds, public events, street surveys and direct engagement with bus operators and statutory consultees. Shortly after his election in May last year, Mayor Richard Parker outlined his vision for bus reform, saying moving to a franchise model would give Transport for West Midlands more control over fares, routes and timetables.
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WMCA currently provides an annual subsidy of around £50 million to private operators but this has failed to stop fare increases and service reduction. If the model is implemented, bus operators will be able to bid for contracts to run services across the region. It will cost WMCA £22.5 million over three years to move from a deregulated network to a franchise.
Mr Parker said 80 per cent of all public transport users in the West Midlands are bus passengers. The decision to move to the consultation was taken in December but some WMCA board members said that while they agree the current system needs reforming, they wanted to understand all the risks associated with the franchise model.
In response, Mr Parker said: “We’re only doing this for one reason and that is to improve services to our residents and the connectivity they can benefit from. Eighty per cent of those who use public transport use the bus network and the bus network is failing currently too many of people.
“There are many hurdles we need to jump yet and this is the start of the process and not the finish.” People will be able to take part in the online consultation by visiting the Transport for West Midlands website.