Under consideration PE2246: Accelerate the implementation of bus franchising powers
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to improve the process for implementing the bus franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 by:
- amending the Act to remove the requirement for proposed franchising frameworks to be approved by a panel appointed by the Traffic Commissioner, instead empowering Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) to have the final say;
- providing additional funding to support RTPs in preparing franchising frameworks and assisting them with initial set-up costs once frameworks are approved.
Background information
There is widespread consensus across the UK that the policy of bus deregulation (implemented in 1986) has failed to deliver the integrated and affordable public transport urgently required to meet climate targets and reduce inequalities.
The bus franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 were meant to enable transport authorities to bring local bus networks back under public control, so that they can be planned and coordinated in the public interest.
However, the Scottish Government has severely delayed the implementation of bus franchising - taking over 6 years to publish required statutory guidance. It has created the most complex and time-consuming legislation in the UK, with the additional requirement for franchising proposals to be approved by the Traffic Commissioner's panel, which will add a year to the process as well as the risk of rejection. This means it may be 2031 before bus franchising is implemented anywhere in Scotland.
5 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
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