MORE than £6m is to be spent improving key bus routes around Merseyside, and underground train stations in Liverpool.

European money has been given to Merseytravel which plans to improve bus routes and create new bus lanes which will be enforced using cameras.

The transport authority is also considering adding devices to buses which will allow them to change traffic lights to improve journey times.

Last night, Cllr Mark Dowd, chairman of Merseytravel, said the money was going to be used to improve access into the city centre and encourage greater use of public transport.

Liverpool city centre underground stations will benefit from £1m for better entrances, new signs and improved accessibility.

Of that, £680,000 will go to James Street Station to make the station an imposing exit to the waterfront and Liverpool One.

The scheme will see the creation of a landmark entrance with canopy and lighting, with an extended concourse and extra automatic ticket gates.

About £5m will be spent on improving major bus routes round the city centre and what is known as the corridor B gateway between Bootle, Walton, Maghull and Kirkby.

Cllr Dowd said: “We have really improved the reliability of trains, and the number of passengers using Liverpool Central station has increased 70% to 15m passengers a year.

“There are 2,000m bus journeys each year and it’s time we focused on improving the bus service to encourage more people onto public transport.

“Our greatest complaint is bus drivers saying they can’t get round the city.

“Corridor B is one of our busiest routes and we need to get the buses to move along the route quicker.

“We need some kind of enforcement to stop drivers using the bus lanes and parking up to visit the shops.

“We want to try and look at buses being able to change traffic lights as well as make bus stops more pleasant with up-to-date information and dropped kerbs.”

Bus corridor D, passing through Kensington, Huyton, Widnes and St Helens and corridor F connecting the city centre to the airport will also benefit from more than £1m each.

The money from the Northwest European Regional Development Fund forms part of Merseyside’s £230m Local Transport Plan which runs until 2011.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the North West Development Agency, said: “These investments will significantly improve access into Liverpool city centre and encourage greater use of public transport, which will both help to ease congestion in the city centre and support the agency’s commitment to tackling the climate change agenda.

“Through driving up the quality, accessibility and frequency of public transport, I hope these schemes will help to provide a real, affordable and convenient alternative to car use for local residents.”

laurasharpe