Source: City of Portsmouth
Portsmouth residents are being invited to share their views on plans to improve bus stops across the city.
These proposals follow Portsmouth City Council’s 2024 bus stop accessibility survey, where members of the public were asked what changes they would like to see to make bus stops more accessible for everyone. Bus drivers were also asked to contribute and share their thoughts on where improvements could be made. This is part of efforts to speed up bus journey’s and make taking the bus better for all.
This project is funded by the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan, £52 million of government investment designed to improve bus services in Portsmouth.
Improvements have been suggested at bus stops across the city, including, Oakwood Road, Doyle Avenue, Knox Road, Angerstein Road, Kings Theatre, College Park, Hayling Avenue, St Luke’s Church, Milton Road, Copythorn Road and Charles Dickens Birthplace.
Proposals at these stops include making changes which will speed up bus journey times and help buses to get out of stops easily, as well as changes to pathways and stops to make bus stops easier for people to get on and off with a pram or in a wheelchair.
Encouraging more people to choose the bus not only reduces traffic congestion, but it also contributes to better air quality, creating a healthier environment for everyone. This is one of the many initiatives the council is implementing to support bus travel including: a new bus bus ticket range, fare free days, and improvements to bus services such as more frequent buses, and 24-hour bus routes.
Councillor Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Making bus travel accessible for everyone is a key part of our efforts to improve transport in Portsmouth. These proposed bus stop upgrades will help ensure that everyone can access buses with ease and comfort, while also reducing congestion and improving our city’s air quality.”
How to get involved
Residents are encouraged to provide their feedback by 5pm on Friday 11 April. To have your say, email citytravel@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or write to BSIP Team, Floor 2, Portsmouth City Council, Civic Offices Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2AL
Once the feedback has been collected, the council will review all views before making a decision. If the improvements move forward work is expected to begin later this year.
More information about the proposed improvements can be found on the council website travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/bsip-schemes/bus-stop-improvements/
More information about the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan
The Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is Portsmouth’s visionary delivery scheme aligned with the government’s National Bus Strategy and aims to dramatically improve bus services in Portsmouth and to encourage passengers back to the bus.
This programme is managed by an enhanced partnership between local bus companies Stagecoach South, First Solent and Portsmouth City Council. With a £52 million grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) the Portsmouth BSIP aims to increase bus usage in Portsmouth by engaging with the local community and transforming the bus network in the city so that it is faster, more reliable, and more affordable.
The Portsmouth BSIP has already funded early morning travel, and later night services, tap on tap off technology, fare free weekends to encourage residents to try the bus, Christmas Day bus services and much more, with even more exciting developments planned for 2025.
According to the latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures, Portsmouth has seen a 20% rise in bus passengers in 2024 and is recognised as the top city for bringing people back to bus travel, with over 12 million bus journeys taken. These achievements were recognised at the UK Bus Awards in 2024, with Portsmouth winning gold in the Partnership for Excellence category.
More information can be found on our website: https://travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/bsip/