Bus improvement project short listed for top transport award
|
A partnership project to provide the people of Coventry with one of the most modern bus networks in the UK has been short listed for a prestigious transport award. The £41.5m Primelines initiative has brought together state-of-the-art technology, new easy access buses, high quality passenger information and highway improvements to transform bus travel in the city. Now the UK Bus Awards has announced that the pioneering project - a partnership between Coventry City Council, transport authority Centro and bus operator National Express Coventry - has been short listed in its Infrastructure category. Judges selected Primelines due to the work it has done to enhance the whole bus passenger experience in the city, from the information and facilities available while waiting for services, to the journey on the bus being quick, comfortable and reliable. Improvements include a £7m investment in new low floor buses by National Express Coventry and Real Time Information displays at over 200 bus stops across the city which tell passengers exactly when their bus will arrive. The project has already led to a six per cent rise in passenger numbers, with one fifth of people on the road now travelling into the city by bus in morning peak. There has been an increase in bus punctuality of 40 per cent and reliability has risen by over 25 per cent thanks to bus friendly highways improvements like bus lanes and traffic light priority which allow buses to bypass traffic jams. The UK Bus Awards has been running for 14 years, and 2009 has seen a record breaking number of "extremely high standard" entries generating what has been described as one of the toughest first round judging sessions ever. The winners of the awards will be announced at a presentation ceremony on Thursday 12 November 2009. |
