Earlier today, James Daly MP for Bury North met with the Managing Director of Transport for Greater Manchester to discuss the latest phase of the Bee Network and the £3.57 billion in funding from the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).
On 4th October, the Prime Minister announced additional funding of £2.5 billion for Greater Manchester from CRSTS 2 for the period of April 2027 to March 2032. This is on top of the funding of £1.07 billion from CSRTS 1 for the period of April 2022 to March 2027.
The CRSTS is a scheme that aims to transform road, bus, rail, tram, cycling and walking infrastructure. It provides consolidated, long-term capital funding to eight city regions across England.
The Bee Network is a joint mission with the Government to level up Greater Manchester by introducing a London-style transport system. Public transport will become one system with local control and accountability, supported by investment in our infrastructure, services through the CRSTS and the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Phase one of the Bee Network saw the first bus services come under local control in Bolton, Wigan and parts of Salford, Manchester and Bury.
Phase two, which will come into play by 24th March 2024 will see Bee Network bus services in Oldham, Rochdale and the rest of Bury.
Phase three will see every bus service in Greater Manchester as part of the Bee Network by 5th January 2025.
From 2030, local tram services will join the Bee Network.
Greater Manchester will also receive £296,466,000 (over the period of 2023/24 to 2033/34) from the CSRTS to go towards the highway maintenance fund, to resurface roads and fix potholes. This money will transform the condition of local roads, allowing road users smoother, faster and safer trips. This has been made possible by the savings delivered by the Prime Minister’s decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2.
