City scoops multi-million pound green travel boost

Following the success in winning funding from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), York Council has announced that it is launching the new strategy, called Intelligent Travel York, to improve sustainable travel in the city and address worrying air pollution levels.

Coun Dave Merrett, York Council’s cabinet member for city strategy, said: “Tackling congestion and making it easier for people to travel in and around York is one of our key priorities.

“It is central to ensuring that York’s economy can continue to grow and develop in the future, as well as helping us address York’s air quality problems.

“We hope that by providing better quality walking, cycling and public transport options, and encouraging local residents to use them in place of some local car journeys, we will be able to make a significant difference to the health and quality of life of people living in, working in or visiting the city.”

The new scheme, which is designed to follow on from the successful initiative Cycling City York, will focus on personal and business travel planning as well further improvements to cycling, walking and public transport infrastructure to attract increases in the level of sustainable travel.

The strategy includes transport providers from across the city, while match-funding opportunities are available for schools and employers.

York has been named as the UK’s second-fastest growing city after Milton Keynes and its population has now broken the 200,000 mark, prompting fears over the under-pressure transport infrastructure.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in 2009 that pollution had been linked to an estimated 158 premature deaths in York every year. Official figures also revealed the city’s average levels of nitrogen dioxide during 2009 exceeded targets set by both the council and the Government and stood at their highest point for seven years.