Bus franchising moves a step closer

Hertfordshire County Council are moving ahead with plans to franchise local bus operations in the east of the county.

A Statutory Bus Franchising Assessment will cover the areas of North Herts, East Herts and Stevenage, after the council was awarded £1m from central government.

The assessment is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete and will identify the potential costs of implementing the system and determine which services could be included.

The assessment will also consider options for network branding, fares and ticketing arrangements.

A comprehensive stakeholder engagement programme will include bus operators, district and borough councils, neighbouring transport authorities, passenger groups, businesses, elected Members and other key stakeholders.

Of franchising is found to be a viable option, a statutory consultation will follow to seek views on the proposed franchising scheme before any final decision is made.

A decision on whether to proceed with franchising is expected in late 2027. 

The Council's Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth, Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, said: "We know that reliable and accessible bus services are vital for connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities.

"The publication of this Notice of Intent demonstrates our commitment to exploring all available options to improve bus services across North Hertfordshire, East Hertfordshire and Stevenage.

"The franchising assessment will enable us to fully understand whether greater local control over routes, fares and service standards could help deliver a more reliable, integrated and sustainable bus network for our communities.

"This is the start of a thorough and evidence-based process. No decision has been made on whether bus franchising will be pursued.

"We look forward to working closely with operators, stakeholders and residents as the assessment progresses."