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Funding

Funded by the Department of Transport.

HM GOV 660 SML AW

MORE than £41 million of vital funding to help improve bus services across the county was confirmed for 2022-2025.

East Sussex County Council received confirmation from Government that it would receive £41,415,025 to implement its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) – proposals to help the council and bus operators improve services and increase the use of public transport.

The funding which benefits people in every part of the county, has supported;

  • Bus priority improvements including physical infrastructure and traffic light priority
  • Bus service improvements including fixed route and timetabled services and flexible services with improved frequencies, later evening services and improved weekend services
  • Fare reductions
  • Bus Stop improvements including the provision of high quality interchanges, more and improved bus shelters and more real time information at stops

Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “We made an extremely ambitious funding bid to the Department for Transport and I am delighted that we have managed to secure this funding allocation - the highest per head for a rural authority.

“While the funding cannot be used to continue existing bus services that may no longer be commercially viable, it enables us to invest in infrastructure, provide more bus services and reduce the cost of fares across the county.”

She added: “There are many benefits to bus travel, including reducing congestion, contributing to better air quality and decarbonisation, and we are working hard to ensure we maximise the funding we have been allocated and take full advantage of all of the benefits that can be delivered.”

Ahead of funding being confirmed, and to take full advantage of the summer season, the county council agreed to fund a range of fare reductions for bus passengers that were part of the BSIP proposals.

A multi-operator East Sussex Day Rider ticket was introduced. 

With the two and a half year funding allocation confirmed, officers have been progressing with the delivery of the BSIP schemes at pace to ensure that the benefits are obtained by the residents of East Sussex as early as possible.

More information about the plan is available at Bus Service Improvement Plan

In November 2024, the national government confirmed further BSIP funding for 2025-26 for East Sussex. This was on a 'formula' basis outside East Sussex County Council's influence. Details of the allocations for local transport authorities can be found on the Department for Transport's web site here 

East Sussex plan to continue with helping passengers by reducing fares, supporting service improvements in the evening and at weekends and continued improvements to bus infrastructure.