Mayor and local leaders approve £44m for transport and regeneration projects
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) Board have approved £44m to build walking and cycling routes, improve bus routes, provide a fleet of electric buses and regenerate town and city centres.
Among the schemes awarded funding are:
- £24.6m for new cycle lanes and safer walking routes in Rotherham and Sheffield
- £6.5m towards the redevelopment of Doncaster Waterfront
- £2.5m towards the construction of Barnsley’s landmark Market Gate Bridge
The MCA Board has given its consent to £16m to improve walking, cycling and public transport links in Sheffield between Kelham Island, Neepsend and the city centre.
The scheme includes plans for South Yorkshire’s first ‘Dutch-style roundabout’ and safer, easier and more attractive walking and cycling routes to improve links between two key areas of the city.
In Rotherham, £8.6m has been approved to build 5km of new cycle paths, and improved walking routes with new crossings, to make Active Travel easier and safer between Tinsley and Rotherham town centre.
Coppard said: “When I was elected last May, I promised to renew South Yorkshire, and make our region healthier, more prosperous and more sustainable.
“We want our communities to be able to thrive and these projects and schemes will make a real, tangible difference to our future.
“Greener, cleaner buses, new and better cycle lanes, regeneration projects in our towns and cities, all these things will help make South Yorkshire a better place to live, work and invest.”
The MCA board also gave the go ahead for money to improve bus journey times and cut road congestion between Maltby and Rotherham and to fund new electric buses for community transport groups across the region.
Regeneration projects in South Yorkshire’s towns and cities were also given a boost, including £6.5m towards the developments of Doncaster Waterfront, £2.5m towards the construction of Barnsley’s Market Gate Bridge, £2.4m towards Rotherham’s Markets and Library Complex and £3m towards Sheffield’s West Bar development.
