Members of the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority have heard details of a partnership proposal aimed at improving local bus services.
The ITA last year asked bus companies to form a collective association and put together a proposal, based on a series of meetings and joint working between bus companies and Nexus, the publicly-funded passenger transport executive for Tyne and Wear.
Nexus is also exploring the merits of a franchise system for local buses similar to London known as a Quality Contracts Scheme, so the respective merits of the two approaches can be compared allowing the ITA to make a decision on the best way forward for Tyne and Wear.
Councillors on the ITA heard a detailed presentation from the North East Bus Operators Association (NEBOA) on 9 November as part of the Bus Strategy Delivery Project.
Cllr David Wood, Chairman of the Integrated Transport Authority, said: "I am delighted that representatives of the Bus Operators have agreed to continue the dialogue which the ITA initiated in its attempt to bring about bus services that meet the needs and aspirations of the travelling public in Tyne and Wear."
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus said: “We have held a series of constructive meetings with the Bus Operators’ Association since the ITA first invited it to work with us on a partnership proposal.
“This will be a chance for members to review the offer and see how far it meets their aspirations for affordable, sustainable and better services.”
People in Tyne and Wear make 139 million bus journeys a year on more than 300 different bus routes – the highest number of trips per head of population in the UK outside London. Nine out of ten journeys are provided by private companies with the rest paid for by Nexus using funds from local councils.
But there is widespread acceptance the current system needs to be improved, with business leaders, politicians and local people among those who have supported the idea of change to give passengers and taxpayers better value and a greater say in how services are planned.
In November 2011, the ITA instructed Nexus to prepare a draft proposal for a quality contract scheme and simultaneously explore with bus operators and district councils scope for developing quality bus partnerships as a possible alternative.