Public consultation begins on proposed changes to the West Midlands bus system
West Midlands: Big changes are coming for the bus system here, and the public gets to weigh in. Mayor Richard Parker kicked off a consultation on January 6 to gather opinions on a new franchise model for bus services.
He believes that switching from the current private operator setup will help Transport for West Midlands manage fares, routes, and schedules better. Right now, the West Midlands Combined Authority is pouring about £50 million a year into private operators, but that hasn’t stopped fare hikes or service cuts.
If this new model goes through, bus companies can bid for contracts to run services in the area. It’ll cost around £22.5 million over three years to make this switch. Parker pointed out that a whopping 80% of public transport users in the West Midlands rely on buses.
The consultation will run for three months, and they expect to hear from thousands of people. There will be online surveys, peer-to-peer chats, toolkits for schools, public events, and even street surveys to get feedback from everyone.
Back in December, the WMCA board agreed to move forward with this consultation. Some members are on board with the need for change but want to understand the risks of the franchise model better.
Parker emphasized that this affects every community and council. He said, “We’re doing this to improve services for our residents and enhance connectivity.” He also noted that the bus network is currently failing many users, and while there are challenges ahead, this is just the beginning of the process.
People can join the online consultation by heading to the Transport for West Midlands website.
