Bus Service Improvement Partnership initiated in Highland

The Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee last week (5 May 2021) agreed to the Council initiating a Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP).

BSIPs are made up of two levels: A Plan and one or more Schemes. The Plan is the high-level policy and strategy element of the Partnership, and Schemes are the implementation of the Plan in specific areas.

Members also agreed the outline Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP) Plan at the meeting and this will be used as a basis for consultation and further development. 

Cllr Trish Robertson, Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee said: “If we are to step up to the challenge that we face with climate change then we must use cars less and move to shared transport where possible. Naturally this will only be possible in our urban areas so we must provide the infrastructure to allow people to make the change. This application will provide the funding needed to start the process and discussions.”

Last month, a bid to fund the design and delivery of over £55 million of transport infrastructure in Highland was submitted to Transport Scotland. A partnership including The Highland Council, bus operators and other stakeholders put together a package of measures to prioritise buses in congested parts of the network.

Alongside walking, wheeling and cycling, public transport is a much more efficient use of road space and more environmentally friendly way of moving around.