City scoops multi-million pound green travel boost

MORE than £4.5m of new sustainable transport initiatives are set to be rolled out across York after the city has become one of the first in the country to secure Government funding.

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

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.

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“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.