Major investment planned to improve bus services in Gloucestershire
Plans to deliver better bus services are being presented to the council
Plans to deliver bus service improvements across the county are being outlined in a report to be presented at a meeting of Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet.
The report sets out how the council intends to use £28.4 million of Government funding awarded by the Department for Transport to support bus services and invest in public transport infrastructure between 2026 and 2030.
The council says the funding will help maintain the current bus network, improve reliability and accessibility, and support future growth in bus use.
The funding, known as the Local Authority Bus Grant, brings together previous Government bus funding into a single package. It includes both revenue funding to support bus services and capital funding to improve infrastructure such as bus stops, interchanges, passenger information and priority measures to help buses run more quickly and reliably.
Cabinet is being asked to authorise the spending programme and begin reprocuring bus services and home-to-school transport contracts that are due to end between April 2026 and August 2027.
They say this will provide greater certainty for passengers, schools and bus operators, and better value for money.
The proposals build on Gloucestershire’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and the partnership work between the council and bus operators. They include continued support for, and strengthening of, key bus routes, further development of The Robin services in rural areas, and investment to improve journey times and passenger experience.
Subject to approval by cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday 18th March, the council will submit its Local Transport Delivery Plan to the Department for Transport, allowing the funding to be released and delivery to begin from April 2026.
Cllr Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and strategic highways, said: “This funding gives us the opportunity to provide certainty for passengers and operators while continuing to improve the quality of bus services across Gloucestershire.
“Our focus is on improving reliability and accessibility, and making bus travel a more attractive option for everyday journeys. By working closely with operators and using this funding wisely, we can build a stronger and more sustainable public transport network for the future.”