Isle of Wight buses will be given priority at traffic lights on major routes and fares for under 21s could be capped at £1 as part of plans approved by the council.
Phil Jordan and six of his cabinet colleagues yesterday evening voted to approve the 2024 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which includes a proposal to upgrade vehicle detection software – Selective Vehicle Detection (SVD) – at signalised junctions.
The council has said this will allow ‘small increases’ in the green signal phases on approaches, improving the reliability of bus journey times.
Key routes linking the Island’s main towns, areas of employment, tourist destinations and cross-Solent ferry terminals have been identified in the plan as having ‘bus signal priority’.
County Hall will carry out work on bus priority measures over the next 18 months.
The BSIP has been put together with Southern Vectis and also includes possible fare changes.
The council will consider reducing bus fares on shorter journeys, including a potential £1.50 fare for Newport Town bus routes, 37, 38 and 39.
A £1 flat fare for under 21-year-olds will also be considered.
Cabinet member for economy, regeneration, culture and leisure Julie Jones-Evans said yesterday:
“(This is a) great way forward for sustainable transport. I think one bit which has got everyone excited is looking at the youth and how they travel around the Island.
“Some of us might remember the Youth Rider, a pound, everyone loved that.”
Cllr Nick Stuart, who represents Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet, said:
“I welcome the whole support for bus services and the comments made.
“But I would like to mention, as the member for the largest ward on the Island, I am concerned, and I have repeatedly been told by residents, of the lack of bus services.
“Porchfield as a village doesn’t have any support whatsoever and it is on a key tourist route – I’d like that to be considered.”
Other BSIP policies include improving accessibility and safety with more hardstanding areas, better lighting, and extra CCTV will enhance safety and accessibility at bus stops.
Whitehall issued new BSIP guidance in January last year, requiring all Local Transport Authorities to submit an updated plan.
This follows the original BSIP submission to the Department for Transport (DfT) in October 2021 which secured £590,000 in phase two funding for 2023/24 and 2024/25.
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