30 bus routes to benefit from Mayor council tax funding

They include upgrades to existing services and brand new routes.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has approved to increase its share of the council tax bill, which will see Band D households pay £36 a year towards the authority.

The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, believes the increase is a "price worth paying" to improve the bus network.

Below are the 30 bus routes it proposes to fund through the increased Mayoral precept:

Cambridge

• Express service linking Cambridge and Huntingdon with the potential to extend to Alconbury Weald.
• New orbital bus service to key destinations around Cambridge, avoiding journeys into the centre and need to change buses.
• Busway, high frequencies Trumpington to Rail Station and Addenbrooke’s.
• Extension of Route 18 to Parkside and increase in frequency across whole route.
• Restoration of direct link from Histon Road to Addenbrooke’s.

South Cambridgeshire

• Route 4, improve frequency Cambourne to Cambridge and investigate expansion of service to North East Cambridge.
• Route 8, improve frequency. More direct route and expansion to Rampton.
• X13 Haverhill to Cambridge, increase frequency.
• New Demand Responsive Transport trial. Collaborating with the community to define a service zone that offers maximum coverage to rural communities.

East Cambridgeshire

• Develop additional Ely Zipper service providing an enhanced link between Sutton and Ely via villages in between, while also exploring a link to Mepal.
• New service between Ely and Longstanton Park and Ride, via Witchford, Sutton, Earith and Willingham.
• New service between Soham and Cambridge, via Burwell, Swaffam Prior, Swaffham Bulbeck and Bottisham.
• Improvements on B1102 corridor with interconnections to access different parts of Cambridge and other centres to which people travel.
• New Demand Responsive Transport trial. Collaborating with the community to define a service zone that offers maximum coverage to rural communities.

Fenland

• 88 (Wisbech), enhanced days and hours of operation, plus extending route to include Morrisons, including a consideration of a Saturday service.
• 31/33, later evening journeys to Whittlesey (also serving Amazon and McCains).
• New service connecting Christchurch to Wisbech and Downham Market.
• New service between Chatteris – Manea rails station – Christchurch – Wisbech, co-ordinated with train times at Manea.
• Enhancement on Peterborough to March route with extension to Chatteris and Ely.
• Improvements to Chatteris – March – Whittlesey – Wisbech corridor.
• New Demand Responsive Transport trial. Collaborating with the community to define a service zone that offers maximum coverage to rural communities.

Huntingdonshire

• Provide a link between Fenstanton and Huntingdon Railway Station. Fenstanton could be incorporated into express service options linking Cambridge and Huntingdon.
• Route 66, improve frequency of service between Ramsey and Huntingdon and provide interchange with service operating between St Ives and March at Warboys.
• X2/X3 Huntingdon – Cambridge – Addenbrookes, engagement with incumbent operator to assess options for improvements.
• 904, improve frequency and earlier and later journeys.

Peterborough

• Options for orbital bus services to key destinations around Peterborough, avoiding journeys into the centre and the need to change buses.
• Improve service frequency through Thorney and improve service to Eye with improvements.
• Route 5, improve service frequencies.