The government has announced that it will be investing a total of £440 million into 44 schemes designed to improve green transport across the UK. The new range of schemes include improved infrastructure for both cyclists and pedestrians, as well as better bus journeys and new and upgraded transport interchanges designed to make it easier for people to switch from one mode of transport to another. The Department for Transport is providing £64m towards the new schemes in the latest round of its Local Sustainable Transport Fund, with Local Enterprise Partnerships investing more than £100m of their funding.æ The LEP had obtained funding from the Local Growth Fund, taking the total to more than £440m. Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: "We want more people to choose to travel in a way that cuts congestion and carbon, delivering economic and environmental benefits. This funding will make that choice easier for millions of people across the country, delivering new sustainable transport schemes throughout England." To be considered for funding, the schemes had to demonstrate how they planned to boost economic growth, to help reduce carbon emissions, to improve air quality and to help encourage levels of cycling and walking in a bid to improve public health. The funding is particularly good news for cyclists, with all the new schemes including some measures to help encourage it as a pastime.æ This will complement the infrastructure schemes benefitting from the Local Growth Fund. The government funding is in addition to the £3bn being provided for transport overall through the Local Growth Fund, which also includes £600m for sustainable transport and £700m for packages that benefit all road users.
