Reductions mean SYPTE workforce will be cut by 45% from 2010/11 levels
Public transport budget proposals aimed at delivering savings of £7.6m for 2015/16 have been passed by the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Combined Authority at its meeting on January 5.
The savings come from the Combined Authority transport budget and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE).
The 10% budget reduction will mean public transport changes from April 1, 2015 will include:
- Removal of printed paper timetables funded by SYPTE;
- Reduced levels of cleaning in Interchanges and at bus stops/shelters;
- Closure of Transport Information Centres at Sheffield, Meadowhall, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Interchange;
- Removal of Travel Choices public transport support for schools and businesses; and
- SYPTE workforce reduction of 45% from 2010/11 levels, affecting up to 50 jobs.
The authority said the savings mean that it has been possible to retain the discretionary concessions for older and disabled people. The 70p child fare and rural, evening and Sunday bus services funded by SYPTE have also been protected by the savings plan.
SCR Combined Authority Chairman, Cllr Sir Steve Houghton CBE, said: “Reductions to local government budgets inevitably affects the level of public transport funding available. Local authority partners, SYPTE and public transport operators continue to work hard to limit the impact these reductions have on customers.
“We are pleased to be able to avoid reductions to local bus services and concessionary travel. However, it is with regret that the 10% reduction to South Yorkshire’s public transport budget means there must be changes to other front line services.
“We realise that this means some customers may need to change the way they find information about bus, tram and train times, and how they buy tickets and apply for passes, and equality impact assessments have been carefully worked through as part of these plans.”
