Business case: Bus Pinch Points and Maintenance Programme

• District: GM-wide
• Location: All districts
• Delivery Programme: City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS)
• Transport Mode: Bus
• Approved Funding: £30.2m
• Operating Cost: Local highway authority / TfGM to maintain

Project Description

The Bus Pinch Points & Maintenance Programme is a set of targeted improvements that will enhance bus speed, journey time, service reliability and accessibility across the GM bus network to improve locally and regionally important bus services. It will focus on supporting priority bus services that do not have funding allocated to them for improvements through other CRSTS programmes and will target local bus issues, such as improving bus journey time reliability through bus priority and traffic signal improvements, congestion reduction and bus stop improvement measures as well as maintaining our existing assets that benefit bus users.

Business Case

Strategic Case

The Bus Pinch Points & Maintenance (BPP&M) Programme is closely aligned to GM’s strategic ambitions for Bus, as set out in our 2040 Transport Strategy and Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and aims to increase the number people who use the bus in Greater Manchester.​ The start of Bus Franchising in Tranche 1 areas from 24 September 2023 is also a landmark change which this programme aims to support.

The programme is split into four separate types of scheme, all of which are focussed on helping GM’s bus network to be as effective and efficient as possible for our Customers:

• Bus Pinch Points: These schemes will target areas of bus delay, poor reliability, or customer dissatisfaction on strategic bus routes. Schemes are expected to include “SCOOT” bus priority enabled junctions (to support late running buses), junction improvements, bus priority (new, extended, or re-timed bus lanes and junction changes) and Traffic Regulation Orders. Funding allocation: £15 million
• Bus Stop Enhancements: These schemes will address bus stop related accessibility, safety, and customer satisfaction challenges across the GM bus network. Funding allocation: £7.2 million
• Bus Priority Signing & Lining: These schemes seek to ensure that existing bus priority (bus lanes, gates and signage) and supporting traffic management infrastructure is appropriately facilitating effective bus service and network performance. It will ensure infrastructure is in good condition, compliant and enforceable against TROs. Funding allocation: £5 million
• Intelligent Traffic Solutions (ITS) Enhancements: These schemes will upgrade the Urban Traffic Management and Control software platform and expand GM’s highway data collection and monitoring capabilities. Funding allocation: £3 million

Economic and Financial Case

Based on similar schemes that have been delivered previously, there is a high level of confidence that the Programme will demonstrate good Value for Money. Individual interventions will provide evidence to demonstrate Value for Money through the agreed approvals and assurance process.

The Programme is funded by the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Funding Settlement (CRSTS). Based on current cost estimates, the Programme is affordable within the approved funding but it is also scalable, to allow delivery to be aligned with budget allocations.

Ongoing maintenance and operational costs for renewed or enhanced assets will be the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority or TfGM (for ITS Enhancements and bus stop infrastructure).

Commercial & Management Case

Individual schemes will be delivered through a range of mechanisms. For example, highway works will generally be undertaken by the relevant local highway authority, whilst Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will lead on delivery of Intelligent Traffic Solutions (ITS) Enhancements and traffic signal improvements.

CRSTS Objectives

Levelling Up

Provides improved public transport services in several more deprived areas and improving opportunities for Employment, Human Capital, and Wellbeing.

Growth / Productivity

Supports economic activity in Greater Manchester while assisting Greater Manchester realise its full economic potential, deliver inclusive growth and carbon neutrality.

Mode Split and Public Transport

The Programme enhances the public transport network supporting mode shift from car.

Value for Money

Value for Money will be confirmed as part of the Full Business Case approval process for individual interventions

Decarbonisation

Improvement to public transport network supports decarbonisation targets by making bus services more accessible and reliable as an alternative to car travel.

Risk / Issue

• Resource availability across TfGM, Local Authorities and our supply chain results in delays across the schemes.
• Highway approvals and consents
• Public acceptability of proposals

Proposed Next Steps

• Ongoing engagement continues across all schemes to ensure the appropriate level and skilled resources are in place. Early engagement with the supply chain is critical to ensure delivery capacity is in place.
• Continued engagement with Local Authorities, key stakeholders and the public to ensure any approvals are secured in advance of delivery
• Early engagement with key stakeholders on the public will be required in order to ensure the scale of ambition in terms of bus priority is delivered.