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Residents across Kent will benefit from more reliable, punctual and cheaper bus services thanks to more than 拢16 million of new government funding to improve local transport connections and grow the economy.

The Department for Transport has today (21 June 2023) confirmed that Kent County Council will receive 拢16.1 million for its bus service improvement plan (BSIP) to improve local bus services, speed up bus journey times and deliver lower fares to help passengers save money on travel.

The move follows the initial government investment of 拢19 million, bringing total funding to boost Kent鈥檚 bus services to over 拢35 million since 2022.

It also comes ahead of the 鈥淏ig Free Bus Weekend鈥� on 24 and 25 June when all bus travel across Kent will be completely free for all to enjoy thanks to the government funding delivered so far.

The 拢16.1 million can be used to introduce lower fares, improve bus punctuality and reduce journey times.

With better transport connections crucial to growing the economy, improvements to local bus services will help local residents save money and travel to work, go shopping, access medical appointments and see loved ones more easily.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

Many people across Kent rely on the bus to get to work and go shopping, attend medical appointments and see friends and family.

That is why today we鈥檙e confirming over 拢16 million on top of our previous 拢19 million investment to boost Kent鈥檚 bus services and help build the modern, reliable and affordable bus network all residents in Kent deserve.

We鈥檝e now invested more than 拢3.5 billion since 2020 to protect bus routes in England and help people 鈥楪et Around for 拢2鈥� as we leave no stone unturned to level up transport, help people save money on travel and grow the economy.

The funding follows a recent investment of 拢200 million to help people save money on travel by extending the 拢2 bus fare cap until 31 October 2023, which will continue at 拢2.50 for another year until November 2024. A further 拢300 million is also being provided to bus operators and local authorities to protect crucial bus routes into 2025 and provide long-term stability to the bus industry.

This builds on over 3 years鈥� worth of government support, totalling over 拢2 billion, to help the sector recover from the pandemic, and聽more than 拢1 billion to support other local authorities like Kent County Council deliver their long-term local plans to improve services. This takes total government investment to support and improve bus services to 拢3.5 billion since 2020.

Kent County Council鈥檚 Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier, said:

Better access to local transport helps our communities across Kent to thrive. The additional money from the Department for Transport鈥檚 bus service improvement plan will make it easier, cheaper and more reliable to get around, thereby boosting our local economy.

This gives us an opportunity to develop our relationships with operator firms across the county to ensure people can make easy and sustainable choices when they want to move around Kent, whether that be to learn, work or play.

On top of the government support to improve local bus services in Kent, DfT has previously provided 拢9.5 million for 32 brand new electric buses and charging infrastructure from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme to help decarbonise the local Kent bus fleet. The electric buses will be used on Kent鈥檚 Fastrack Bus Rapid Transit system.