The Scottish Government has announced that up to £51m of funding is up for grabs to improve walking and cycling travel infrastructure in 2019
The record travel infrastructure funding has been allocated through the Scottish Government’s active travel budget and will be match funded through applications to the Places for Everyone infrastructure programme, which is administered on behalf of Transport Scotland by Sustrans Scotland.
Sustrans has received project proposals from 30 local authorities for segregated paths, improvements to the public realm and projects intended to make Scotland’s towns and cities safer and friendlier places to live, work and spend time in. The successful travel infrastructure projects will be announced in the coming months.
Following the Parliamentary statement on the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: “Last year we doubled the active travel budget from £39m to £80m and we have maintained this record funding again this year to increase the speed of change in the number of people walking and cycling and to develop an Active Nation.
“While we are unlikely to reach 10% of all journeys made by bike by 2020, our ambitious push has led to good results in some areas, with Edinburgh now seeing rates of cycling at 9.8%.
“Infrastructure is key and I’m delighted that a record sum of money, £51m prior to match funding, will be invested into Scotland’s communities through the Places For Everyone programme.”
John Lauder, deputy CEO Sustrans, national director, Sustrans Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland added: “Sustrans Scotland warmly welcomes the cabinet secretary’s announcement of funding of £51m for infrastructure for walking and cycling.
“We have seen real ambition in the applications from local authorities and other stakeholders for our new Places for Everyone infrastructure funding programme, which allows recipients of funding to double their budgets by matching their funding with Transport Scotland’s funds.
“This increased funding means that local authorities and other stakeholders such as community development trusts can make it easier for people to walk, cycle and wheel by delivering safe, well designed, high-quality infrastructure.”
