Bus Partnerships Best Practice Guidance

Atkins and The TAS Partnership Ltd have been commissioned by the DfT to produce best practice guidance on bus partnerships, covering England (outside London). The action was in response to requests from local authorities and bus operators for improved and updated guidance. The guidance will set out the components of strong bus partnerships, both voluntary and statutory, barriers to establishing and maintaining them and potential solutions. Its aims are to improve the quality of partnerships; achieve the best outcomes for passengers; and encourage the most effective use of current resources. It will involve a review of existing material and an online survey of local transport authorities to gather information on current and previous partnership work. Bus operators will also be contacted to obtain details of partnerships they have been or are involved in. Detailed reports on 12 case studies will inform the drafting of the guidance. Following further consultation with stakeholders, a final document will be published with a target of April 2015.

A website (www.transportconsultation.co.uk) has been set up where organisations can provide comments and find out more information.