Sustainable transport schemes across England will receive £64M through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

The Department for Transport is backing 44 local authority programmes which promise environmental, health and economic benefits.

Schemes include better infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians and upgraded transport interchanges to allow modal shift.

Investment of over £100M will also come from Local Enterprise Partnerships through local growth deals announced last week. With match funding the value of schemes could be over £440M.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “We want more people to choose to travel in a way that cuts congestion and carbon.

“This funding will make that choice easier for millions of people across the country, delivering new sustainable transport schemes throughout England.”

Transport for Greater Manchester secured the largest share of the latest allocation, with £5M promised for a scheme to get people into work through greener travel options.

The money will be used to support various programmes, including improved routes for cycling and a 'Bike Back to Work' scheme which will provide newly employed people who are coming off benefits with a bicycle to keep travel costs down.

The second largest investment from the £64M pot went to South Yorkshire, which received £4.8M for a bid focused on communities where a lack of access to work or training is a significant problem.

Projects expected to benefit include a new hourly express bus service between Barnsley and Doncaster to better connect communities and jobs and a scheme to help businesses convert their fleet to clean electric vehicles.

(Photo: South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority)

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