Peterborough wins award for improving bus services

Peterborough City Council is the best local authority in the country at improving its bus services according to judges of the National Transport Awards 2011.

The city council picked up an award for improvements to bus services at the ceremony in London in front of then Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond MP.

Judges found that the council has a history of partnership working with stakeholders such as Stagecoach and Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Judges in particular praised the partnership work where NHS trust staff are encouraged to use public transport with reduced price Megarider tickets. The city council also worked with the trust and Stagecoach to introduce a direct bus route from the city centre to the new City Hospital to encourage more staff to use public transport.

Since 2004 there has been a 41 per cent increase in the number of people using the Stagecoach Citi network. Improvements have also been made to the accessibility of buses, with 92 per cent of the public transport network operated by low floor vehicles and the entire Stagecoach network operated by low floor vehicles.

Judges commented that ‘Peterborough ensures that its subsidised services are integrated with the commercial network’ and praised the council for ensuring that appropriate funding had been set aside to support bus services and community transport, which has enabled the city’s park and ride service to operate for free.

Judges also praised the council's consideration of public transport when determining planning applications.

Councillor Peter Hiller, cabinet member for housing, planning and neighbourhoods, said: "Our success in these prestigious industry awards is well deserved. A lot of hard work and investment goes in to improving public transport and encouraging people to leave their cars at home.

"To receive national recognition and to fight off competition from councils across the country is great and a real boost for the city. This award shows that, together with our commercial partners, Peterborough City Council operates one of the best public transport networks in the country."

The 2011 National Transport Awards took place at the Lancaster London Hotel on 6 October 2011. The awards are supported by the Department for Transport and Passenger Focus.