In April, EBUG submitted an FOI request to Transport Scotland requesting details of funding disbursed by the Bus Partnership Fund, which the Scottish Government closed in 2024. On 9 May Transport Scotland replied that this was addressed by an earlier FOI ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400432144/ ), though figures for the North East Bus Alliance had more recently been finalised.
We grouped the spending in geographical areas by 3 categories:
A. Projects which produced actual physical change on road networks
B. Projects producing some change to roads networks, as well as studies, appraisals etc (where data does not clearly distinguish them)
C. Projects producing only studies, appraisals etc
Argyll & Bute Partnership
Feasibility Study; George St/Dunollie Rd Bus Lane (not progressed after study).
Project management costs.
Signals upgrade on A816.
Upgrade bus shelters and cycle racks
£49,402 Category B
Ayrshire Partnership
Feasibility study; Pennyburn Rd, Kilwinning bus lane extension.
Feasibility study ; John Finnie St, Kilmarnock bus prioritisation at signals.
UTC extensions Kilmarnock– Three Towns to prioritise buses at B751/B7081 junc, and 2 signals, Ardrossan.
£248,810 Category B
Edinburgh Bus Alliance
Strategic Business Case on 8 Edinburgh corridors to identify potential bus priority measures. Prepare additional evidence for Transport Scotland.
Scoping/Appraisal of bus priority at 37 signals.
Appraise extra physical bus priority measures on Edinburgh corridors/junctions.
Feasibility studies for early interventions identified in the SBC.
Outline Business Case incl. design of selected bus priority measures: A7/A772, A71, A90.
Upgrade QMS, A90 near Barnton junction.
Bus priority trial: install virtual loops, 7 junctions Slateford Rd and 6 junctions Dalkeith Rd.
Make permanent the temporary A1, A90, A89, Gogar Pass, Newcraighal, Kaimes and Gilmerton Crossroads bus lanes; previously temporary signals Riccarton Mains Rd Roundabout; the temporary splitting of bus stop outside Musselburgh police station.
A70 Bus Lane Camera, Gillespie Crossroads.
Project management costs
£1,757,819 Category B
Fife Bus Partnership Central North & East
Cupar-Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes-Leven, St Andrews-Kirkcaldy corridors; STAG Appraisal to identify and develop bus priority measures.
Prepare additional evidence for Transport Scotland.
Project Management
£341,062 Category C
Fife Bus Partnership West
Cowdenbeath-Kincardine, Dunfermline to Ferrytoll; STAG Appraisal to identify and develop bus priority measures.
Prepare additional evidence for Transport Scotland scrutiny and approval.
Project management costs
£265,675 Category C
Forth Valley Bus Alliance
STAG Appraisal of 5 corridors (Stirling-Falkirk, Glasgow Rd, Grahams Rd, A9/A872, A908/B9096) to identify and develop bus priority measures.
Project management costs
£444,883 Category C
Glasgow Bus Partnership
Paisley Road West, Maryhill Rd, Dumbarton Rd, Pollokshaws Rd, Great Western Rd, all Glasgow; Outline Business Cases.
Economic assessment of short-term measures for these bus corridors re value for money.
Glasgow & Strathclyde Strategic Bus Network Plan; build on corridor appraisal and produce SBC on wider network enhancements to 2030.
Make permanent a temporary bus lane on Bothwell St.
Howard St, Glasgow: Install bus priority at signals.
Paisley Town Centre; upgrade signals, implement urban traffic management & bus priority at junctions on Glasgow Road.
Paisley Rd West; convert traffic management system to above ground detection at 13 junctions, link together.
Paisley Rd West traffic signal upgrade at 4 junctions.
£2,476,867 Category B
Highland Partnership Fort William
Fort William STAG Appraisal (incl. Mobility Hubs) of bus priority measures.
Blar Mhor; Bus link health centre-new residential development; prepare and design.
Upper Achintore; Bus link residential development- Lochaber Rd; prepare and design.
£188,747 Category C
Highland Partnership Inverness
Millburn Rd, B9006 and A82; STAG Appraisals to identify and develop bus priority measures, and Black Isle Mobility Hub.
Rose St Inverness; Make permanent a temporary bus link to bus station. Bus link camera.
Raigmore bus gate; improve bus access to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Implement bus priority at 26 junctions.
Torvean Mobility Hub, Inverness.
Bus stop infrastructure improvements, Inner Moray Firth
Project management costs.
£2,219,783 Category B
Midlothian Bus Alliance
STAG Appraisal on 4 corridors (A6094 Whitecraig-Eskbank, B6392 Eskbank to A772 Gilmerton Junc, A7 Gorebridge-A7 Danderhall, A6094 Eskbank-A701 Straiton).
Bus stop infrastructure improvements.
Project management costs.
£450,349 Category B
North East Bus Alliance
Ellon-Garthdee, Inverurie-Aberdeen, Westhill-Aberdeen, Laurencekirk to Aberdeen; STAG Appraisals and Outline Business Cases for bus priority measures.
Aberdeen City Centre; OBC and Implementation of bus gates, Bridge St, Guild St, Market St.
Aberdeen Rapid Transit; STAG Appraisal, including communications and engagement.
Aberdeen City Centre South College St junction improvements for bus priority.
Project management costs.
£9,855,429 Category B
Tayside Bus Alliance
STAG Appraisal 12 corridors in Dundee, Perth and Fife for bus priority.
Install urban traffic control equipment, Dundee and Perth with bus priority (early interventions identified by the appraisal).
£755,935 Category C
West Lothian Bus Alliance
STAG Appraisal covering various locations in West Lothian
£185,129 Category C
Spending by category
Category A = nil
Category B = £17,058,459
Category C = £2,181,431
This produces a total of £19,239,890, approximately £10 million less than the generally quoted total BPF spend. It is not clear why.
Nevertheless, with Category B including a number of projects producing some change to roads networks, as well as studies, appraisals etc, it is clear that a considerable amount of money was spent overall on the latter, often with no further action resulting.