Public asked to shape future of bus services
Go North EastPeople are being asked whether they support plans to bring more than 500 bus routes back under public control.
In what could be the biggest overhaul of the North East bus network in more than 40 years, the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority has launched a public consultation on the proposals.
If approved, the bus franchising scheme would give Mayor Kim McGuinness responsibility for setting routes, timetables, fares and service standards.
Private bus operators would continue to run services, but under contract to the authority rather than on a commercial basis.
Under the plans, the mayor has pledged to protect bus services from cuts for 10 years and expand the network.
The authority said the network had shrunk by almost a third since 2010, with services becoming less frequent, evening and weekend routes withdrawn, and some routes disappearing altogether.
'Something has to change'
McGuinness said people had repeatedly told her buses were unreliable, expensive and difficult to use.
"The difference that people will see will be things like more reliable services, which are much needed, fares that don't need to rise for a long period of time, and, frankly, a bus service that reflects what people want to see - better integration and newer buses," she told the BBC.
"That's the sort of thing that we want to put in front of the public.
"I hear all the time complaints that the bus just doesn't show up or it shows up late.
"They can't rely on it to get to work.
"More people use the bus than any other form of public transport, so something has to change."
McGuinness said the consultation was an opportunity for people across the region, whether they currently used buses or not, to help shape future services.
'Consider risks'
The authority's cabinet unanimously agreed in March to consult on the proposals following an assessment.
The consultation asks residents to consider the risks of franchising, including the authority taking on greater financial responsibility for operating the network, which is used by about 317,500 passengers each day.
Chief executive of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority Henry Kippin said people were being asked to compare the proposed franchising model with the current partnership between councils and private bus operators.
"We want people across the North East to consider our plans, including the new responsibilities and risks we would take on," he said.
The consultation runs until 28 September, with more than 30 public events planned across the region.
Feedback will be considered before the mayor and cabinet decide whether to proceed with the scheme.
