Government investment puts green transport schemes in motion

Date: 6/7/2011

Government funding has helped to set the wheels in motion on a number of transport initiatives in England that have been designed to reduce carbon emissions and improve economic growth.

As part of the first allocation from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, 39 projects have received financing totalling £155 million.

These schemes encompass 37 local authority areas and range from an expansion of the existing park and ride service in Oxford to the implementation of Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation ticketing in Plymouth.

Meanwhile, Hampshire will begin work on improving its bus services and installing electric vehicle charging posts, while Stratford-upon-Avon is to get a new rail station and related facilities.

Transport minister Norman Baker says: "All the winning schemes have one thing in common - they will help build strong local economies while addressing the urgent challenge of climate change."

In the March Budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne committed to making £30 billion of funding available for new transport projects across the UK over the next four years.

Posted by Nick Anderson