£3m for Scottish green buses

Scottish Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, has announced a further £3m for the Scottish Green Bus Fund. Bus operators, local authorities and Regional Transport Partnership’s across Scotland can apply for funding towards the purchase of low carbon emission buses. The scheme is now in its seventh year and aims to help support the introduction of new low carbon vehicles across the country. The Scottish Government has already invested £14.8m over the previous six funding rounds. Funding for the 2017/2018 Green Bus Fund has been made available from this year’s Future Transport Fund. Operators of low carbon buses are also eligible for an enhanced rate of the Bus Service Operators Grant which further incentivises the use of green buses.

Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, said, ‘I am pleased to announce funding for this latest round of the Green Bus Fund, which has already seen the introduction of more than 300 low emission buses to the Scottish fleet and I look forward to seeing even more on our roads. We will continue to invest in public transport and active travel, and in low carbon technologies, such as electric cars and vans, hybrid ferries, green buses and the infrastructure they require.’

CPT Scotland Director, George Mair, said, ‘The Scottish Green Bus Fund has been a fantastic initiative in assisting operators to upgrade the standard of their vehicles and meet low emissions targets. Buses are responsible for less than 4% of road transport emissions. Scotland’s bus operators remain committed to further improving the green credentials of what is already one of the most environmentally sustainable modes of transport.’

The deadline for applications for the 2017/2018 Green Bus Fund is 30 June 2017.

For further details on the Green Bus Fund visit www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/scottish-green-bus-fund