Upgrades to bus fleet part of Manx transport plan

Continued upgrades to the island's bus fleet is among the commitments outlined

Plans to upgrade the Isle of Man's bus fleet as well as encourage active travel have been outlined in a ten-year transport strategy.

The Department of Infrastructure said it aims to increase the use of public transport while decreasing the number of people reliant on cars by improving accessibility to services and information.

The upgrades would include plans to adopt zero-emission technology as well as to review the location of public transport infrastructure.

It also sets out plans to renew the Active Travel strategy, which ran until 2021, and to improve street design to encourage walking and cycling.

The proposals were set out in the government's Transport Strategy 2025-2035, which is set to go before Tynwald next month.

The strategy also outlines plans to electrify ferry ports

The document said the strategy needs to be "flexible" and able to respond to plans to increase the island's population and visitor numbers.

However, it noted that the cost of maintaining the island's transport infrastructure had risen and, in light of fiscal constraints, the plan should aim to "leverage existing capabilities, resources, and infrastructure and ensure spending is directed effectively".

The strategy also said it aims to improve "air connectivity", support airlines in decarbonisation as they transition to alternative fuels and encourage the use of public transport to and from the airport.

Other commitments included in the document were to electrify commercial harbours, removing the need for vessels to use fossil fuel-powered generators when in port.

The strategy also sets out proposals to encourage more use of e-scooters and e-bikes.

It said the government plans to phase out diesel and petrol vehicles and increase infrastructure around electric vehicles.