A total of £440 million will be invested in green transport with 44 schemes getting the go ahead this week, the Government has announced.
The range of schemes include improved infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, better bus journeys and new and upgraded transport interchanges allowing people to switch from one mode of transport to another.
The Department for Transport is providing £64m towards the schemes in the latest round of its Local Sustainable Transport Fund, with Local Enterprise Partnerships investing more than £100m of the funding they received earlier this week as part of the Local Growth Fund. Further match funding will take the total to more than £440m.
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: "We want more people to choose to travel in a way that cuts congestion and carbon, delivering economic and environmental benefits. This funding will make that choice easier for millions of people across the country, delivering new sustainable transport schemes throughout England."
To be considered for funding, the schemes had to demonstrate how they would boost economic growth, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and encourage higher levels of cycling and walking to improve public health.
The funding is good news for cycling, with all the schemes including measures to get people on their bikes such as cycle hire, maintenance and cycle hubs. This complements the infrastructure schemes funded through the Local Growth Fund, including cycle networks across the country.
The successful bids can be viewed on an interactive map here.
Today's Government funding is in addition to the £3bn being provided for transport through the Local Growth Fund, which included £600m for sustainable transport and £700m for packages that benefit all road users.
Noel Lock - 11/07/2014 16:06
Upon reading the descriptions of these schemes it is hard to imagine that any of them will have as much of an impact on reducing air pollution as getting all the taxis to run on LPG, the solution chosen in so many cities and countries around the world. Presumably the powers that be are still using the assumption that Euro standards ensure diesel is clean and we will all be driving electric vehicles come Thursday anyway! No running in the school ground kids - it will kill you.