Cabinet opens purse strings to tackle poor regional accessibility: 300 million for self-driving buses and more

The Dutch government has announced a plan to allocate 300 million euros annually starting in 2030 to combat declining regional public transport accessibility. State Secretary Annet Bertram intends to address staff shortages and service gaps by investing in autonomous buses and centralizing coordination for demand-responsive transport, such as taxis and neighborhood buses. These measures aim to counteract the recent loss of over 1100 bus stops nationwide, which has particularly hindered elderly people and students living in rural areas or city peripheries. By implementing integrated transit systems that pool resources for various user groups, the government hopes to create more efficient alternatives to traditional fixed-route services. Furthermore, the ministry is exploring innovative approaches to make transit more affordable and encourage travel outside of peak hours. This strategy emphasizes central government leadership and technological innovation over simply increasing funding for conventional bus and tram networks, which struggle with both overcrowding and underutilized off-peak capacity.