The West Yorkshire Combined Authority believes the way local buses are run needs to change to achieve our ambitions for better buses in West Yorkshire.
All information, including our questionnaire, can be found on our Your Voice page here.
This consultation runs until 7 January 2024.
Background
Buses are the most used form of public transport in West Yorkshire, with over 1.7 million bus journeys taken each week – but the number of passenger journeys are in long term decline and the industry faces many challenges with the way buses are currently run.
We believe the way local buses are run needs to change to improve the local bus system for our communities who rely on it. The information in this consultation explains why we recommend bus franchising is the right way to do this, based on the assessment of the Proposed Franchising Scheme.
The Consultation Document sets out our plan for franchising in West Yorkshire and how this could be introduced. It also explores an alternative option we assessed, the Enhanced Partnership Plus, which details what else the Combined Authority and bus operators could do to improve local buses through the current legal framework. These two bus reform options are compared to the way buses are currently run, the Enhanced Partnership Reference Case.
We welcome your views and comments
This consultation is open to all individuals or organisations. We want your views, whether you currently use the bus or not.
You are invited to provide your feedback by completing our questionnaire via Your Voice and we welcome any additional feedback by email or letter should you wish to say more. Responses via letter should be signed by the appropriate person providing the response and include their full name and job title. All responses will be received and processed by the Combined Authority and shared with our partner agency ‘DJS Research’ to be analysed as part of the consultation process.
All feedback will be considered by the Combined Authority and the Mayor. The Mayor’s decision on whether or not to make the Proposed Franchising Scheme is currently expected in March 2024