14
July
2014
|
10:46
Europe/London

Million pound sustainable transport boost

The cash, coming to the county through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, will go towards a raft of innovative projects to help to build a strong local economy and provide sustainable connections to and across Science Vale , and comes hot on the heels of the £108m Local Growth Deal funding announced this week.

Package of measures

A package of measures, to be delivered over the next year, will improve the Science Vale cycle network and facilities, provide enhancements to public transport services between Didcot Station and strategic employment areas, and a deliver Supported Transport ‘Wheels to Work’ initiative targeted at young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETS).

County Councillor David Nimmo Smith, Cabinet member for transport, said: “This is really good news and means that we can develop some really worthwhile projects which will contribute to the success of the area.

"The money will all go towards sustainable transport and making alternatives to the car more feasible and attractive for the growing number of people that will be working there.

“The recent Growth Deal money will help build new facilities and the £1million will help us develop and promote cycling and public transport as an effective way to get around, so the latest funding announcement comes at just the right time

“I am particularly excited by projects such as a the cycle hire scheme, bus route improvements, a ‘wheels to work’ scheme and journey planner and I am sure they will capture people’s imagination.”

The money will be spent on projects in the coming year including:

  • Targeted upgrades and maintenance of existing cycle route network
  • Cycle network scheme development
  • New cycleway signage
  • A cycle hire scheme focussed at Didcot Parkway Station and Harwell Oxford and Milton Park Business Parks
  • A ‘Wheels to Work’ pilot initiative targeted at young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) including moped lease and maintenance
  • Harwell Oxford Campus to Didcot Station bus service upgrade

 

The county council will work in partnership with a range of partners to deliver the improvements including South and Vale district councils, LEP, business parks, HarBUG, Sustrans, Oxfordshire Local Transport Board, Thames Travel, Oxfordshire Cycle Challenge, Oxfordshire Skills Board and TRAX.