Kent and Medway are to get a share of more than £124 million to fund better bus services across the south east.
The money has been pledged by the government as part of its plans to introduce “London-style bus services” across the country.
Kent will receive £23 million while Medway is set to get £4 million, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh confirmed today.
Kent was chosen alongside areas such as Milton Keynes and Slough to receive the money to improve buses for passengers into 2026.
Every region in England will benefit from the funding, but those areas which have been historically underserved are being prioritised.
The funding settlement will mean more areas will be able to maintain their service – while other areas will be able to offer more buses.
The Department for Transport (DfT) says the funding represents a “record level of recent investment for bus improvements” for the majority of areas, alongside once-in-a-generation reform to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.
The investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting.
It will prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality across England, to bring an end to the current postcode lottery of unreliable services.
As part of this investment, the way funding is allocated has been reformed, meaning it will be allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation and population.
This will stop areas competing for funding as in previous years, which the DfT says wastes resources and delays decisions.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “The value of regular and reliable bus services cannot be understated.
“For far too long, the South East has been suffering from unreliable services with buses hugely delayed, or not even turning up at all.
“This funding kickstarts the bus revolution to bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services, drive economic growth and make sure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities.
“We’ve already committed over £150million to extend the bus fare cap and keep fares low and this nearly £1billion of further funding will mean local routes are protected, reliability is improved and the passenger is put first.”
It is hoped this investment will ensure lifeline services between towns and hospitals can continue transporting patients to appointments, and in turn, support the government’s plan to reform the NHS.
The Buses Bill will be introduced in this parliamentary session and will give local leaders across England greater control to deliver bus services in a way that suits the needs of their communities.
Local authorities will be empowered to deliver modern and integrated bus networks that put passengers at the heart of local decision making.
Alongside the £955 million, £150 million has already been committed to extend the bus fare cap.
The cap will now run until December 31, 2025 year and ensure that the flat rate for journeys remains at £3, enabling savings of up to 80% on some routes.
This is on top of the additional £200 million CRSTS funding announced in the Autumn Budget, helping to improve local transport in our largest city regions and drive growth and productivity across the country.