A ground-breaking partnership to improve bus services was launched last night (Monday, December 17) by bus companies, City of York Council, the business community and bus passengers.

The Quality Bus Partnership will set targets for both the bus companies and the council aimed at making bus services easier for people to get around the city.

The Partnership is chaired by Roland Harris, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber Of Commerce, and comprises elected members of the council, a local representative of the National Federation Of Bus Passengers and senior managers of the local bus companies.

The public will be invited to attend meetings of the Partnership and may raise issues for the board to discuss.

At last night's meeting in York's Guildhall, an action plan was agreed by First York with the company and the council agreeing to work together towards achieving a 12 percent improvement in bus reliability.

First York expects to be operating all of its services using brand new accessible, low emission buses by April next year. In addition, the council and First York will improve bus stop timetable displays by March next year. A target has also been set to increase the number of people using buses by six percent over the coming year.

Roland Harris, chair of the Quality Bus Partnership, said, "An efficient and effective public transport system is crucial to the continued economic prosperity of our city.

"This new partnership will enable bus companies to work with bus users, business and the council to develop a bus service which meets the needs of the city."

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