£30 million to improve Welsh public transport and support economic growth

£30 million is set to be invested in improving Welsh public transport and encouraging economic growth, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, has announced.

Wales’ 22 local authorities were invited to submit proposals to the Welsh government’s Local Transport Grant funding to deliver projects which aim to:

• Support economic priorities for jobs and growth
• Reduce economic inactivity by delivering safe and affordable access to education, key services and employment, particularly for those living in disadvantaged or rural communities
• Connect communities
• Encourage active and sustainable travel
• Improve public transport reliability and reduce journey times.

Following assessment of the applications, Skates has announced:

• £22.6 million will be allocated to 21 projects across 15 local authorities which enable improvement in economic activity, improve access to employment, encourage healthier travel modes and connect communities
• £3.531 million will be allocated to the North Wales Metro project to deliver 10 schemes across four local authorities
• £4.1 million will be allocated to support 17 schemes across 13 local authorities to ease bus congestion and delays on strategic public transport corridors.

Skates said: “These grants stand as a substantial investment to improve local public transport provision and support local economic growth as we work to aid the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m particularly encouraged that these schemes include improvements to encourage more people in Wales to walk and cycle, particularly as we know that active travel will be more important than ever as we work to manage the spread of this contagious disease.

“The grants will see over £20 million being invested in improving integrated public transport. This includes £3.6 million to begin construction of the new bus interchange in Merthyr Tydfil, something I’m very keen to see progress.

“In north Wales I am committing over £2.2 million to deliver a better, more efficient service for passengers by improving bus journey times and passenger facilities in Flintshire, and to that end a further £380,000 in the Conwy Council area.

“Our flagship North Wales Metro project, a key part of this government’s programme to provide a more integrated and efficient transport system for the region, will also receive a £3.5 million boost.”