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9
WQ.46/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 29th JANUARY 2019
Question
Given the measure would potentially help to counter traffic congestion and improve Islanders' mobility and health, will the Minister commit to undertake a thorough investigation of the provision of a free bus service for the Island and to include this undertaking in the 2020 Government Plan?
Answer
As recently outlined by the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure while answering Oral Question 155 of 2018, the concept of a zero-fare bus service has already been considered with the outcome being that additional revenue expenditure of several million pounds per annum would be required to fund such an initiative, while removing from the bus operating contract the commercial revenue risk which has been a key factor in the success of the LibertyBus service since 2013, and acting as a disincentive to the active travel modes of walking and cycling.
Additionally, there is no conclusive proof that removal of bus fares would have a significant effect on the volume of private motorised transport.
For these reasons I cannot justify resources for any further study into this topic. However I would be very happy to meet the Deputy along with my officers and LibertyBus representatives, in order to discuss how the bus service might potentially develop in the future.