2021 Manifesto FINAL DRAFT - Flipbook - Page 41
Transport
I WILL:
• Lobby hard for the only real solution that would bring down
prices and improve frequency and reliability: bringing buses
back into public ownership.
• Implement the mayor’s powers over bus franchising as soon
as practicable to make sure that all areas are served by goodquality services.
• Ensure that all buses have the best possible access, including
working with bus manufacturers and using franchising powers
to make sure that older people, parents and disabled people are
consulted when making procurement decisions, to maximise
access for people of all ages and needs.
• Work to introduce good-quality and fast Bus Rapid Transit
routes, particularly where there is no suburban rail or metro
route. No area should be far from quick services to its nearest
centre.
• Introduce more bus priority measures such as bus gates,
intelligent traffic signals and bus lanes, by reallocation of road
space not by road widening.
• Work with neighbouring local authorities to establish new bus
services or strengthen existing ones to link the conurbation
with rural towns in neighbouring authorities, where there is no
nearby rail service.
• Publish a comprehensive bus safety plan.
• Lobby government to end the failing West Midlands Railway
franchise and bring this back into public ownership
• Push for full devolution of rail franchising powers and for
regional control of rail infrastructure.