Six active travel and public transport schemes have been put forward to Government for consideration under the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).
Sheffield City Region (SCR) has formally submitted the bids, which cover schemes across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and are together worth almost £10m.
This comes after, in September last year, it was announced that SCR was one of 10 shortlisted areas in the country to receive Transforming Cities cash.
Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “It is critical that we improve the transport system across our region, to create better access to major employment sites, better integrate different modes of transport and create services and infrastructure fit for the 21st century.
“A crucial part of this is enabling people to travel in a more active way; whether that is by foot, bike or by public transport. By prioritising active travel we can improve people’s health, cut carbon emissions and reduce congestion.
“Following the publication of my transport vision last month, this submission to the Transforming Cities Fund is an important next step. I look forward to working with the Department for Transport as we develop our detailed plans.”
The Government has allocated £60m to be given to projects in this financial year, for schemes that can commence delivery before the end of March. In total, the Transforming Cities Fund is worth more than £2bn.
This bid from the SCR has the support of all four local authorities in South Yorkshire, as well as South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, the region’s two main bus operators, and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
In total, SCR has bid for £9.3m from Government, to go alongside £6.3m in match funding. The total value of the six schemes is more than £15m.
Four of the schemes are to promote active travel in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield respectively. This includes the creation of cycle lanes, new cycle and pedestrian crossings, and a series of cycling and walking improvement works.
Together, the proposed works aim to enable people to choose affordable, greener and healthier forms of travel. The schemes will better connect homes, transport interchanges, employment and recreational opportunities using safer, more direct and convenient routes.
In Barnsley, the plans are for an off-road direct cycle route along the A635, linking Ardsley and Darfield to employment opportunities in the Dearne Valley.
In Doncaster, the “Don Active Travel” scheme would improve cycle routes and pedestrian areas along key routes including the area between Ten Pound Walk and the railway station; between Thorne and Moorends; and between Conisbrough, the iPort, Rossington and Doncaster town centre.
In Rotherham, the plans are for a direct cycle route linking Greasbrough, Kimberworth and Wingfield to Rotherham town centre, as well as providing an early phase of a link to the planned Bassingthorpe Farm housing development, which comprises around 2,400 houses. This would involve an off-road cycle track for much of the route and an on-road section closer to the town. Side roads will be treated to provide priority for cyclists and pedestrians.
And in Sheffield, the plans are for a City Centre West cycle route extending existing facilities on Charter Row through to Hanover Way; new crossings at Mappin Street and Holly Street,;and the purchase of 200 e-bikes and accessories which will be made available to employers for their staff to use.
Two region-wide schemes have also been put forward. These involve retro-fitting buses with emission reduction systems to make them cleaner and greener, and also installing Real Time Information (RTI) at 45 bus stops to provide passengers with up-to-date public transport information.
A decision from Government as to which schemes will be progressed is expected before the end of March.
