Public Transport

8.14 Adequate public transport is an important component in managing the use of the transport infrastructure. There has been significant investment in buses in recent years and this has resulted in increased numbers of customers using them. Bury St Edmunds Railway Station has also benefited from investment. The challenge for the future is to increase public transport infrastructure and services in the borough to ensure that there is a realistic alternative to the private car. The Local Transport Plan will be the main force to achieve these objectives but the Local Plan can help by making provision for improved facilities and by siting development in locations capable of reasonable access by public transport, especially buses. Details of proposed public transport infrastructure provision are contained within Part 2 of the Replacement Local Plan.

8.15 In rural areas access to public transport is generally restricted. The Suffolk Local Transport Plan sets out minimum service levels it expects to achieve for various settlements in rural areas according to their size. The Local Plan Development Strategy seeks to ensure that new development occurs in locations well served or capable of being served by public transport.