A major bus project in Yorkshire is getting nearly £16 million in funding to provide new road layouts, intelligent traffic control and low-emission vehicles.
The £28.2 million Bus Rapid Transit service between Sheffield and Rotherham is receiving £15.9 million from the Department for Transport and will create an estimated 4,400 new jobs.
It will create a new link under the M1, priority for buses at congested sections of the route and revised junction layouts with intelligent traffic signals to give BRT vehicles a smoother journey.
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer gave the scheme and grant final approval today, so work on the project can now begin with estimated completion in September 2015.
Commenting on the plans, Kramer said, “This is great news for bus users who will benefit from quicker, more reliable services.
“The coalition government is committed to investing in public transport to offer real transport choices for the people of Yorkshire. Buses are a major link for many people, and help drive economic growth.
“This investment will help unlock the next planned phases of development in the Lower Don Valley, and create up to 4,400 new jobs.”
The grant follows a series of others provided to local authorities around the country so that they can invest in lower emission designs.
Concerns still exist around the reduction in viability of some routes because of changes in the availability of Bus Services Operators Grants, however, while local authorities around the country are watching to see if Tyne and Wear council can use quality contract schemes to wrest back control of services from operators such as Go North East.
