The Scottish Government will provide £7m to support “interventions” that will increase capacity and public confidence for those passengers using school transport in the country.
Transport Scotland says that full details of the The Public, School and Community Transport COVD-19 Mitigation Fund, including guidance on how to apply guidance for operators and local authorities, will be published shortly on its website.
The money will help to pay for measures such as driver screens, hand sanitiser dispensers and their fitting, “high performance” air-conditioning units and disinfectant fogging equipment.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson says the money is also targeted to reduce anxiety around using public transport that has been created by “the risks posed by COVID-19.” Recent surveys have shown that there is still a high degree of concern among the public around using public transport, he continues.
Mr Matheson adds that while many operators and their staff have already worked hard to create a safer environment for passengers, “some may still need to take additional steps or require funding to do so.”
