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The Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority, Cllr David Wood, today welcomed the Government’s draft proposals for the future of the bus industry, Putting Passengers First, which was published today, December 12. Cllr Wood said: “There are two simple tests of any new Government policy: Will it get people to choose the bus over the car more often, and will it help those who rely on the bus as their only method of travel. “What all passengers want is a convenient, reliable local bus service. These proposals show ministers recognise this and are prepared to give the PTA and Nexus the additional powers necessary. “The PTA and Nexus is leading the way on several ideas mentioned in the white paper, working together with local councils, bus operators and the voluntary sector. These include planning better and longer bus priorities on the busiest roads into city centres, working more closely with bus operators to set higher standards, and funding community groups to provide their own local minibus services. “A number of local authorities in Tyne and Wear are calling for London-style franchising in the shape of quality contracts, and we will be working with them to see how this can best be achieved. We will have to wait and see what the Government’s Road Transport Bill has to say about how transport as a whole is managed in this area, and what potential this offers to improve the day-to-day service for passengers.” The full report, Putting Passengers First, can be found at here.
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