Stagecoach has asked for a bus lane to help cut the journey time for buses crossing the A27 into Chichester, the Chichester Observer reported.
The suggestion came as part of a meeting between the operator and Green MEP Keith Taylor, who wanted to discuss sustainable options for public transport in the city. MD of Stagecoach South, Edward Hodgson, said congestion on the A259 in particular was a key issue for those commuting into the city from Bognor Regis.
He said: “We hope there’s a solution to get buses to the front of that queue. We recognise options like an underpass or a tunnel just aren’t going to happen, but journey time and punctuality is key for us.
“The frustrating thing is we’ve had to put more buses on the roads just to keep up existing frequencies because journey times are getting longer due to the added congestion.”
Mark Turner, Commercial Director of Stagecoach South, added that putting on a new bus cost £70,000–£90,000 a year to run and journey time had changed by as much as 10 minutes due to traffic.
