Bus fare cap could end early to fund youth travel scheme
Combined Authority considers reallocating funds to extend discounted Tiger Pass scheme
Bus fares in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough could rise sooner than expected as the Combined Authority considers ending the local bus fare cap on September 1.
The current cap which keeps single fares at £2.50, was due to remain in place until December. However, a proposal put forward at a transport committee meeting on July 8 suggests ending the cap early to reallocate £1.4 million towards extending the Tiger Pass scheme for under-25s.
The Tiger Pass allows eligible young people to travel for £1 per journey. It’s currently set to expire in November due to lack of funding, but could be extended to March 2026 under the new plan.
Concerns were raised over proposals to remove cross-boundary journeys and restrict eligibility to those in education or training. Councillors questioned whether enough impact assessments had been done, and warned that cutting the fare cap could negatively affect low-income residents.
A final decision is expected later this month when the Combined Authority board meets to determine the scheme’s future.