New Ferry Landing, smart ticketing on Metro and 100km of walking
and cycling infrastructure on the way by 2027
North East Mayor, has today (Wednesday 12
March) outlined £208m of Local Transport Plan projects, the first
phase of £800m of investment she will make across the region's
transport network over the next three years.
Ahead of the North East Combined Authority Cabinet meeting in
March, the Mayor has set out her transport priorities and funded
investments that will transform transport in the region by 2027.
The Mayor's investment will deliver:
- A new North Shields Ferry Landing –
safeguarding the iconic Shields Ferry and creating an improved
service for thousands of passengers across the Tyne.
-
Stepping up the roll-out of mobile and smart
ticketing on Metro and local rail.
-
100km of better walking, wheeling and cycling
infrastructure – including a route from St Mary's
lighthouse in Whitley Bay to Blyth, a new link between
Washington and Northern Spire in Sunderland, improvements on
the National Cycle Network between Jarrow and Hebburn and
active travel upgrades in Gateshead at MetroGreen.
-
New Metro gatelines at key stations –
supporting the improvement on public transport for women and
girls and other groups and protecting fares.
-
Safety and accessibility improvements including
improved bus stops across the North East and better
connected and integrated stations.
-
£23m of guaranteed investment for County
Durham – bringing Durham into the region's main
transport funding programme aligned with the other six local
authorities.
-
£15.8m for up to 1,000 new electric vehicle (EV)
charge-points in residential areas and
chargers at key destinations and public transport
interchanges.
- An additional £21.7m of highways maintenance
funding for next financial year delivering repairs and
renewals right across the region.
North East Mayor , said: “For too
long we have put up with an inadequate transport network which is
in urgent need of investment. Today I am pleased to confirm £208m
of projects that I will deliver by 2027, revitalising our
transport network and providing a more accessible, safer and
better-connected system which will greatly benefit local people.
“I'm proud to confirm that I will fund a brand-new Ferry Landing
in North Shields, the roll-out of smart ticketing on Metro and
local rail, new gatelines to improve safety – especially for
women and girls on our Metro system, £23m in funding for County
Durham, 100km of better walking, wheeling and cycle routes, extra
electric vehicle charge points and safer, more accessible bus
stops and stations.
“I have been clear from the outset that I will invest in our
transport system to create more opportunities for local people
and I am delivering on that promise. I have bigger, longer-term
plans for our region and we'll be investing more in due course
but this initial £208m is the first phase of a major £800m
capital investment programme which we will roll-out over the next
three years to revive our network, and improve public transport
and active travel for all.
“We are rolling up our sleeves and getting on with the job at
hand of investing heavily in transport to reverse the decades of
under investment in the North East.”
The funding package announced includes ongoing and new
investments across multiple modes and is expected to be delivered
by 2027.
This is subject to approval by the Mayor and North East Combined
Authority Cabinet next week.
