Resort's bus services receive £4m cash boost
LDRSBus passengers in Blackpool are set to benefit from a £4m investment designed to encourage more people to use public transport.
Planned improvements include a major upgrade of bus shelters in the town, and installing more real-time information screens.
The work will go ahead after the spending plans were approved by Blackpool Council's executive committee.
Town hall bosses are keen for more people to use public transport following the recent announcement that 3,000 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff will be moving to Blackpool, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Blackpool Council, which owns Blackpool Transport, also hopes increased bus use will help the local authority meet its environmental targets.
A report for the council said it would also "contribute to improved local air quality and to climate change objectives".
Planned improvements include:
- Enhancements to the bus service
- Bus lanes on Talbot Road
- A deep clean and repairs to bus shelters, or replacing worn-out ones
- Providing more real-time information (RTI) screens at town-centre bus shelters
The Bus Grant Delivery Plan is supported by funding from the Department for Transport, which in December handed out £955m to support bus services across England.
The report stated: "Local bus services are a vital resource for less able people and children/young people in Blackpool's community.
"Clearly the economic impact of having to use taxis and private hire to get around town has a disproportionate impact on partially sighted, less ambulant and poorer members of society.
"Bus use, especially on newer cleaner buses and electric buses, is more sustainable than private car use."
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