Bus Priority and Accessibility Bill

A01

Deputy Speaker,

I propose an amendment for this bill, which is well intentioned and in the public good.

Section 3 was previously removed, I propose it be replaced by this:

Section 3: Funding, Performance Incentives, and Grants

3.1 Funding Allocation

The Secretary of State shall establish a dedicated fund, known as the "Bus Priority and Sustainability Fund," to support local authorities in implementing bus priority measures and related infrastructure.

3.2 Performance-Based Funding

Local authorities may apply for performance-based grants, which shall be allocated based on metrics that include but are not limited to:

a. Increase in bus passenger numbers.

b. Reduction in travel time on designated bus corridors.

c. Decrease in carbon emissions and pollution in the local area.

The Secretary of State shall establish an independent body to evaluate and approve performance-based grant applications, ensuring transparency and impartiality.

3.3 Private and Alternative Funding

Local authorities are encouraged to form partnerships with private entities and local businesses to supplement the Bus Priority and Sustainability Fund.

Local authorities may also explore other funding mechanisms such as issuing green bonds, congestion charges, or levies on parking spaces to raise additional revenue.

3.4 Financial Oversight

Local authorities shall submit a detailed financial report outlining the expenditure of received funds, the outcomes achieved, and any private partnerships formed, to the Secretary of State at the end of each fiscal year.

The Secretary of State shall allocate a portion of the subsequent year's fund based on the performance metrics achieved, as outlined in Section 3.2.

A01 was submitted by /u/SomniaStellae.

A02

Strike Section 3.

EN: This section dictates that the funding for all these bus projects will come through the usual routes from which a local authority may acquire funding for things of this nature. It is entirely redundant since if it were absent LAs would go the same way about finding the money.

A02 was submitted by /u/Maroiogog.

A03

Amend the bill to read:

1 Duty of local authorities to implement bus priority measures

(1) Local authorities may designate a route as a key bus corridor.

(2) Local authorities must designate routes on which a significant number of buses travel each day as a key bus corridor.

(3) Local authorities should seek to implement bus priority measures on key bus corridors.

(4) A bus priority measure may not be implemented unless the local authority has complied with the notice and consultation requirements imposed by section 2 of this Act.

(5) Bus priority measures include—

(a) designating a part of a road as a bus lane,

(b) ensuring that traffic lights give priority to buses over other vehicular traffic,

(c) constructing bus shelters at bus stops,

(d) constructing other infrastructure at bus stops to enable passengers to board and disembark buses safely,

(e) measures to synchronise bus services with other transport services, and

(f) other measures which in the view of the local authority will lead to more persons travelling on bus services.

2 Consultation as to proposed bus priority measure

(1) If a local authority proposes to implement a bus priority measure under section 1(3), they shall give notice of the proposed measure in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons in the area to which it relates.

(2) After giving notice of the proposed measure, the local authority shall consult—

(a) all operators of transport services who are, in the opinion of the local authority, likely to be affected by it;

(b) such organisations appearing to the local authority to be representative of users of transport services as they think fit;

(c) persons whose sole or main residence is in the area the measure relates to,

(d) persons who own a company in the area the measure relates to,

(e) the traffic commissioner; and

(f) such other persons as the local authority think fit.

3 Implementation of bus priority measure

(1) If, having complied with section 2 of this Act, the local authority decide that it is appropriate to implement a bus priority measure, they may implement it—

(a) in the form proposed; or

(b) subject to such modifications as they may specify.

(3) The local authority shall give notice of the measure—

(a) in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons in the area to which the measure relates;

(b) to all operators of transport services who are, in the opinion of the local authority, likely to be affected by it;

(c) to every other person consulted in relation to the measure under section 2(2); and

(d) to such other persons as the local authority sees fit.

4 Guidance from the Secretary of State on bus priority measures

(1) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to local authorities in relation to bus priority measures.

(2) Local authorities must have regard to such guidance.

(3) Guidance issued under this section shall be published in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(4) The Secretary of State may at any time vary or revoke guidance issued by them under this section.

5 Reports on bus priority measures

(1) No less than once a year, a local authority should publish a report on bus priority measures implemented by the authority.

(2) The report should include—

(a) an assessment of the effectiveness of bus priority measures implemented by the authority,

(b) targets for increasing the number of persons who travel on bus services,

(c) an assessment of the progress made towards meeting that target since the previous report was published,

(d) targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted by road vehicles in the area the bus priority measures implemented by the authority relate to, and

(e) an assessment of progress made towards meeting that target since the last report was published.

6 Interpretation

In this Act—

“bus” has the same meaning as “public service vehicle” in the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981;

“transport service” has the same meaning as “public passenger transport service” in the Transport Act 1985;

“local authority” means—

(a) a county council,

(b) a district council if there is no county council for that area,

(c) a London borough council,

(d) the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority, or

(e) the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

“bus stop” has the same meaning as “stopping place” in the Transport Act 1985;

“bus lane” means a part of a road which may be used—

(a) only by buses (or a particular description of bus), or

(b) only by buses (or a particular description of bus) and some other class or classes of vehicular traffic;

“road” has the same meaning as in the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981;

“traffic light” has the same meaning as “traffic light installations” in section 74A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;

“bus shelter” means a shelter at a bus stop which is on the route of a local service for the use of persons intending to travel on the local service;

“local service” has the same meaning as in the Transport Act 1985;

"company" has the same meaning as in the Companies Acts;

"Companies Acts" has the same meaning as in the Companies Act 2006;

"greenhouse gas" has the same meaning as in the Climate Change Act 2008.

7 Commencement

This Act comes into force at the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

8 Extent

This Act extends to England.

9 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bus Priority and Accessibility Act 2023.

Explanatory note: better wording for this bill

A03 was submitted by /u/LightningMinion.

This division will end on Thursday 26th October at 10pm BST.