Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has unveiled plans for the city to "level ourselves up" by rolling out a London-style bus network that caps fares for commuters.
The Labour mayor said the combined authority will press ahead with a bold plan to bring buses under public control - as part of the city region's wider 'Bee Network' - after a legal challenge from bus operators was thrown out by a High Court judge last week.
The Greater Manchester Franchising Scheme will cap fares for a single journey at £2 for adults and £1 for children.
It will mean that regulated buses will be introduced in Bolton and Wigan as well as parts of Salford and west Manchester from autumn 2023, with Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and areas of north Manchester to follow in Spring 2024.
The final tranche covering Stockport, Trafford, Tameside, south Manchester and Salford will begin to run by the end of 2024.
Speaking at a specially-organised event at Escape to Freight Island, a former depot which is now a food, drinks and entertainment venue, Mr Burnham set out ambitious plans for a “new era” for the region.
It includes plans for the city region to work to create a “living wage city region”, to build 30,000 zero carbon homes for social rent and six “inclusive growth locations” would be set up, where there were plans to bring in new jobs and strengthen the economy.
He said: “What we want to prove is that as we go towards a carbon neutral Greater Manchester we can use that to make real changes to benefit our residents.
“Give them all good homes, good jobs, good public transport.
“We can level ourselves up.”
Paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey will take on a new role as Greater Manchester’s active travel commissioner.
Dame Sarah will be encouraging people to walk or cycle the first and last mile of their journeys, or the entire journey if possible.
She said: “It’s not just about transport, it’s also about health.
“I live and breathe the benefits of walking and cycling every day so I will be wanting to help make that case to Government, that if you want to invest in the north, you want to level up the north, you have to invest in people’s health and wellbeing as well.”
Dame Sarah had been active travel commissioner for South Yorkshire, but will be moving to the role in Greater Manchester in May.
She added: “Being able to walk and cycle your journeys as a child is the first feeling of freedom and independence and we need to be able to give that to more children across the city region.”
