DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (175) issued by The Government News Network
on 27 November 2007
A further
£4billion will be invested in delivering better, more integrated
local transport over the next three years, Transport Minister
Rosie Winterton confirmed today.
The Local Transport Capital Settlement will allow local
authorities to plan and fund important community projects, such as
bus infrastructure improvements, cycle lanes, new road safety
measures, better street lighting and road maintenance.
The funding announced today is in addition to the £7.9billion
planned to fund major transport projects across the regions
between 06/07 and 2015/16.
Rosie Winterton said:
"Well planned local transport can transform communities. We
have already invested more than £8 billion over the past 7 years
on projects to support this and I am today confirming £4 billion
of sustained investment to continue to support local transport for
the next three years.
"Tackling congestion, improving road safety and providing
genuine alternatives to the car are essential to people's
quality of life and the economy. And without good local transport
none of this is achievable.
The Eddington transport study demonstrated how small local
transport improvements that tackle congestion, improve integration
and provide genuine alternatives to the car often provide the best returns.
"We are already making great progress in reducing road
casualties, improving the condition of local roads and encouraging
cycling. And through our commitment to long term funding for local
transport we can continue the momentum."
The Local Transport Capital Settlement is allocated to local
authorities to help them meet the needs of their communities.
Today's investment includes £2,268million for highways
capital maintenance and £1,768million for smaller transport
improvement schemes.
Local authorities will also benefit from a share of a £286m grant
to improve road safety over three years, announced last year.
Notes to Editors
1. This year's investment delivers £4.036billion in funding
for 2008/09 until 2010/11. It confirms the indicative integrated
transport allocations of £1,768 million across the country for
2008/09 to 2010/11 announced last year, which were subject to this
year's spending review.
2. The £286 million specific Road Safety Grant allows local
authorities to better tackle local road safety issues. They can
use it to fund any tool they believe will best meet local need -
from safety cameras to education initiatives.
3. Of the funding for highways capital maintenance, £2,109
million is being distributed formulaically. The remaining £159
million has been or will be allocated in response to specific
bids. These include bids for major maintenance and bridge
strengthening on the primary route network and, for smaller
authorities, bids for exceptional maintenance schemes.
4. The highways capital maintenance formula has recently been
revised, following a consultation. The results of this
consultation, 'Local Transport Planning: The Next
Steps', which also asked about the future of Local Transport
Plans and reporting on progress, can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localtransportbill/govresponse
5. The second Local Transport Plans (LTPs) were submitted in 2006
by all English local transport authorities outside London,
containing an integrated transport strategy for their area and a
costed programme of measures to improve local transport over the
period 2006/07 to 2010/11.
6. Full details of individual local authority LTP allocations
throughout England will be available on the Department's
website http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/capital/ltpsettle07/
7. The £7.9billion for major transport projects was announced
last year as part of the Regional Funding Allocations exercise.
The Government accepted regional advice for major transport
projects to fund in the period between 06/07 and 2015/16, subject
to the normal approvals process.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk