The Department for Transport (DfT) has pledged nearly 200 million GBP for the improvement of public transport in the East Midlands.
Funding is set to be spread across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire throughout both 2025 & 2026.
Received by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the money includes a new funding source set aside for Mayoral Combined Authorities, which currently stands at 66 million GBP on top of previous monetary commitments.
The funding is planned to be utilised by the EMCCA to invest in more comprehensive transport connections between cities, towns and rural areas, as well as support major network improvement projects.
Money will also be put toward the improvement of the reliability of bus services in the area, as well as aid operators in a switch to fully sustainable, zero emission bus fleets.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said:I am delighted we have been given this additional funding to invest in our roads and local transport programmes across the region. This is more than filling potholes and getting people from A to B, it’s about transforming lives and communities, and it will give us a fantastic opportunity to connect people across the region and make it easier to access jobs, skills training, health appointments, and our incredible tourist attractions.
We will work closely with key partners and councils to make sure every penny of this funding makes a difference. The ambition is to create the best possible transport system for the East Midlands and this funding will help us towards achieving this. We want to transform transport opportunities for all those who live, work and do business in our region, as well as those who come to visit our amazing places – creating a region where everyone has the chance to succeed.
The funding, both revenue and capital, has been provided from a wealth of sources, including Highways Maintenance, Integrated Transport, Active Travel 5, Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP) and the early release of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements 2.
