No change in child bus fare

Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) has agreed its budget for the next financial year, and the cost of concessionary travel for children will stay at 80p.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chairman of GMITA, said: “It is vital that we do everything we can to encourage more young people to travel on our buses, trains and trams, as they are tomorrow’s commuters.

“Managing our budget to keep the concessionary fare at the existing level should help parents manage the cost, which will in turn go a long way to making public transport an attractive alternative to the private car and the hassle of the ‘school run’.

“At the same time, we are also embarking on a significant, long-term investment in public transport that will transform the way people are able to travel in Greater Manchester – so the future is looking very bright.”

The GMITA levy will increase from £164.742 million in 2009/10 to £173.883 million in 2010/11.

£4.94 million (3%) of the increase is ring-fenced to fund the financing costs of the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, a £1.5bn investment programme covering 15 major transport schemes that will deliver the greatest benefits for the economy of Greater Manchester.

The remainder of the levy increase – which amounts to 2.6% – covers the cost of concessionary travel, as well as the costs of subsidising bus and a limited number of rail services in the county.

Greater Manchester has one of the most generous concessionary travel schemes in the country and GMITA are proud to be able to safeguard that position going forward.