Mayor secures funding to keep Sheffield and Doncaster’s buses running

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, many of the area’s bus services and other public transport networks had started to come under strain, and despite the funding, Mr Jarvis – Mayor of the Sheffield City Region – says more needs to be done by the government.

Responding to the government announcement about funding for bus services during the Coronavirus pandemic, Mr Jarvis said: “I am working around the clock with Ministers, the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and transport operators to ensure South Yorkshire has the resources needed to keep essential public transport services running during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In South Yorkshire, I have already taken action to maintain and extend concessionary payments and agreed a substantial package of support for operators. This means essential services will keep running for our NHS staff, key workers and members of the public for the next four months.

“It will also provide certainty to our transport system so normal services can resume when travel restrictions are lifted. The investment from Government will help ease the strain the crisis is placing on already-stretched funding for buses in the region.

“However, we need to look at transport issues in the round and the Government must now go further to ensure all of South Yorkshire’s public transport network keeps functioning. This means guaranteeing funding for Supertram, which has a crucial role to play in keeping key workers moving during this critical time, particularly to Sheffield’s hospitals.”

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