Passengers in part of Kent are to benefit from increased bus frequency as Kent County Council (KCC) moves forward with its measures aimed at improving journey times.
As part of the Thanet Loop Improvement Project, new parking restrictions have been installed along main parts of the existing bus route in the borough to ensure journeys are more reliable, timely, safe and accessible to all.
In the coming months work will also begin on improving some bus stops along the route, said the council.
More than three million passenger journeys were made on the Thanet Loop last year with 10,000 passengers on average using the service each weekday. From June 2, the service will increase from every 10 minutes to every eight minutes, allowing more people to discover the benefits local public transport has to offer.
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Neil Baker, said: “We are committed to making it easier for people to use public transport to travel around their local area.
“Working closely with the bus operator, we have understood what needs to be done to improve services and the Thanet Loop Improvement Project has already seen significant improvements made to the road layout to make journeys more reliable.
“Our next steps will be to engage with key local stakeholders about a further phase of works soon to ensure all road users are safe and passengers can realise the benefits of a reliable local bus service.”
The improvements are being delivered as part of KCC’s commitment to encouraging people make more sustainable choices of how they travel in their local area. The project is being funded through the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Stagecoach South East’s Commercial Director, Matthew Arnold, said: “Minutes matter when it comes to delivering quicker, more reliable and more frequent buses – which is what people tell us they need to help make bus travel an attractive option.
“Each of the interventions in this ongoing programme of investment will create journey-time improvements that added together will enhance bus flow on Thanet’s principal bus route.
“That’s why we’ve committed to bringing forward this boost to the frequency of the Loop service, ahead of the full delivery of the Superbus scheme.
“Partnership projects such as this, between local authorities and bus operators, supported by central government funding, will help ensure a self-sustaining local bus network for the long-term.
“This is an investment in the future of the community; creating better connections and helping reduce road traffic congestion.”
PIC-KENT CC
