Local Transport
10.The Act defines authorities which are to be local transport authorities and imposes a duty on those authorities to prepare and publish a local transport plan setting out their policies for the promotion of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities in their area, and to develop a bus strategy for carrying out their bus functions.
11.The Act provides for a statutory form of “Quality Partnerships schemes” between bus operators and local transport authorities in the interests of promoting quality public transport, helping limit traffic congestion and improving air quality. The Act will enable local transport authorities to require bus operators to co-operate in the provision of joint ticketing, and will place a duty on local transport authorities to secure the provision of bus passenger information in their area. Local authorities will have the power (subject to the Secretary of State’s consent) to enter into “Quality Contracts schemes”, whereby they specify bus services in a particular area and let contracts for their provision to bus operators.
12.The Act introduces a national concessionary fare. Elderly and disabled people will have the right to half-price local bus fares upon production of a bus pass to be obtained free of charge from their local authority. The Act also gives a more flexible power for the traffic commissioners to impose a financial penalty on bus operators who run unreliably, and it makes various other financial provisions.
