People will be able to travel by bus for free in Rhondda Cynon Taf in March, if a council proposal is agreed. It will apply from March 1-31 for all journeys that start and finish within the county boundary, regardless of the operator.
Services that begin or end outside the county boundary would be excluded and subject to the full regular fare. There would be no time limit, so free travel would be available from the first to the last service each day. A report to cabinet has said the plan would offer wider benefits for social interaction and support economic activity across the county borough.
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.
