Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is set to launch a public consultation on a proposed franchising scheme for the city region’s bus services that could costs £135m.
The move would bring bus services – including routes, timetables, fares and standards – would be brought under local control.
Deputy mayor of Greater Manchester Sir Richard Leese said: “Buses are the backbone of our public transport system, carrying people on 75 per cent of journeys across the city-region, taking people to work, the shops and the hospital and playing a crucial role in helping people go about their daily lives.
“But in Greater Manchester and other UK regions bus use is falling. We need a new model for running our buses to arrest this decline, so that the bus network can play the same key role it does in supporting other major global cities.”
On Monday, the GMCA will also be asked to approve a proposal on how the proposed franchising scheme would be funded, should a decision be taken to introduce it.
This includes how the forecast £134.5m net costs to change from the current market to a franchised system could be met.
Estimated costs include £122m for moving to a franchised bus market in Greater Manchester by 2024/2025, and a £12.5m forecast rise in current budgets over the same period relating primarily to travel concessions and supported bus services.
