Less than two weeks after taking office South Yorkshire’s new Mayor Oliver Coppard has is working to improve public transport.
He has already written to the new CEO of First Group challenging the company to deliver better services for South Yorkshire’s communities, and met the team at the Stagecoach depot in Rawmarsh to discuss the decarbonisation of the region’s bus network.
He has also asking regional bus operators to share six years of their patronage, performance, and financial data so officials can get on with the work required to assess the benefits and risks of franchising in South Yorkshire.
He said: “For too long our communities have had to put up with a declining, underfunded public transport network, with regular cuts to services. That’s not ok. I’m going to do everything I can to bring about improvements as quickly as possible.
“That’s why this week I’ve agreed to designate a director with a dedicated team who will take the so-called ‘franchising’ assessment forward at pace, and I’ve also taken one of the first major steps in delivering that process.
“I’m going to continue to use every lever I have to create a network that works for our communities. That includes extending free park and ride services, because right now all too many people are struggling with the cost of living. And I’m extending the Zoom Beyond pass, keeping bus fares as low as possible for 18–21-year-olds across South Yorkshire.
“Longer-term, I’m determined to fight for a world class, integrated public transport network in our region. It won’t be quick, and it won’t be easy, but that has got to be the goal.
The government have said they want to see a ‘London style transport network’ here in South Yorkshire by 2030, but right now we’re a million miles away from that goal and the clock is ticking. Without investment from government things are going to get worse, not better. We’re doing everything we can, but they need to put their money where their mouth is. We’re done with waiting.”
