Improved bus services in Rochdale part of £20m 'key infrastructure' plans

Improved bus services in Rochdale, and a ‘streets for all’ scheme in Middleton, are part of newly announced plans by the Bee Network Committee for major £20m “key infrastructure projects”.

The latest release of funds will go towards a range of projects, each contributing towards the delivery of a high-quality, affordable and fully integrated public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling network.

In Middleton, the ‘Streets for All’ scheme is being set up, which is said to ensure high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling connections. The project is currently being developed for Middleton town centre by Rochdale Council.

The scheme, which is still subject to further approvals, supporting the wider masterplan and its ambition to unlock regeneration around the Market Place, creating new housing and establishing of a new cultural quarter.

A key feature of the scheme will involve reconfiguring the Market Place roundabout, to include a new public space, better-segregated cycling provision around the roundabout, and improvements to the underpass to allow sufficient width for shared use between pedestrians, wheelchair users, and cyclists.

The Bee Network committee approved £0.7m to progress the scheme to a final business case and progress with awarding a contract for the Streets for All scheme.

Improving bus routes around Greater Manchester is a Bee Network priority, and a long-term project is already underway to improve the reliability of bus services between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton, along with bettering connections to and from bus stops and the environment along key routes.

The route between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton is currently the busiest on the franchised network.

Funding for the project, known as Improving Journeys – Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton is being released in phases, and the Bee Network Committee has now released £2.1m of CRSTS funding to develop the Rochdale element of the scheme to Full Business Case.

Construction of the main scheme in Rochdale is anticipated to commence in Autumn 2025, subject to further approvals.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner, said: “We are moving quickly to bring about improvements that will make a real difference to how people get around Greater Manchester using public transport or when walking, wheeling or cycling.

“Over the next few years, more than £1bn will be invested to make bus and active travel journeys better and to make paying more convenient through ‘tap and go’ ticketing.

"The scale of ambition is reflected in the drawdown of these funds that support continued delivery of the Bee Network across all ten districts of the city-region."

To ensure people can travel conveniently and seamlessly on Bee Network services, funding of £7.3m was approved to deliver contactless pay-as-you go across bus and Metrolink services.

It means customers will be able to pay via a contactless card or device while using Bee Network bus and tram services throughout the day, with the best value fare automatically worked out and capped for them.

The funds will also be used to help combat fare evasion, with new devices to check whether passengers have paid via contactless, along with a new feature that will enable passengers to see their journey history in the Bee Network app.