South Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis has submitted a bid to Government which aims to secure millions of pounds worth of funding to improve the county’s transport network.
The Mayor, who is set to become a Transport for the North board member later this month, set out his vision to tackle the region’s transport problems in an application to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
If it’s approved, cash from the fund would be spent on public transport and relieving congestion on key routes, in addition to active travel and mobility solutions.
Speaking about the bid, Mayor Jarvis said: “This is an important time for South Yorkshire. We are experiencing strong economic and jobs growth, we are developing our advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities and we have globally significant assets such as Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.
“But, quite simply our transport system and its supporting infrastructure is not fit for the 21st century. Our urban centres are poorly connected, residents struggle to access major employment sites and land available for development is constrained by congestion.
“These failures in the transport system limit the flow of ideas, people and business between our urban areas and major employment sites. It is a drag on our productivity, competitiveness and a waste of the talent and skills of our workforce. The current problems must be resolved as soon as possible, which is why we have set out these ambitious but deliverable plans.”
