Oban and Lorn benefit from bus improvement grant

Improvements to bus services in Oban and Lorn are timetabled for the near future as the result of a successful bid made by a local partnership to the Scottish Government.

The Argyll and Bute Bus Partnership have tapped into the Bus Partnership Fund to implement bus priority measures designed to make local services quicker, more reliable and more attractive as an alternative to the car.

Argyll and Bute Council working with HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands and local bus operator West Coast Motors have been successful in applying for funding to improve bus services in Oban.

The improvements include funding to establish a bus lane on the A85 Trunk Road and to upgrade existing traffic signals with adaptive bus priority that will help improve bus journey times and the reliability of services in and around the town. The funding will also see the establishment of a Bus Service Improvement Partnership for the Oban and Lorn area which will look to bring together other key transport operators and organisations to improve local bus services.

Argyll and Bute Council Leader and HITRANS Board Member Councillor Robin Currie, welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of investment.

He said: “The Bus Partnership Fund allows local authorities to work in partnership with bus operators to develop and deliver ambitious schemes that help to reduce congestion on our roads and address a decline in the number of people using public transport. I am delighted that the Argyll and Bute Bus Partnership has been successful with its exciting plans for Oban and Lorn and hope that it can be used as a springboard to deliver further improvements to local services.”

Transport Minister –

Colin Craig, West Coast Motors  –