Free bus travel in March for journeys that start and end in Rhondda Cynon Taf has been approved by councillors. A report was approved by cabinet on Tuesday, February 28, for free bus travel from March 1-31 this year for all journeys that start and finish within the county boundary, regardless of the operator. Services that begin or end outside the county boundary will be excluded and subject to the full regular fare. There will be no time limit so free travel will be available from the first to last service each day, with wider benefits for social interaction and supporting economic activity across the county borough, the report said.
The council has successfully bid for money through the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund to introduce initiatives that will help reduce the cost of living for residents, through measures that improve energy efficiency and combat fuel poverty and climate change. For 2022/2023, £500,000 has been awarded to RCT Council with further funding of £1.1m for 2023/24 and £1.2m for 2024/25. Officers will review the outcomes of the free bus scheme and look at developing more free bus travel initiatives during 2023/24 and 2024/25. The estimated cost of this one-month initiative is up to £500,000, which will be fully underwritten by Shared Prosperity Fund grant funding.
The council will agree the costs of the initiative with operators in advance by using a historical level of “on bus” revenue which the council said simplifies administration and removes any financial incentive for operators to inflate claims as well providing parity between bus operators. The initiative will operate alongside the Welsh Government concessionary bus pass scheme, and concessionary pass holders will need to present their pass to ensure the correct level of funding comes from the Welsh Government.
