Securing funding to improve local public transport across our towns and villages
Improving local transport services across the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency remains one of my top priorities. From conversations and correspondence with constituents I know that having fairly priced access to frequent and reliable public transport is is one of their priorities too.
My main focus is to work with local councils, our devolved Metro Mayor, and the national Government to secure the funding necessary to upgrade our local transport infrastructure and deliver new services for our communities.
Decades of underinvestment has meant that our region, our towns and our villages have had to put up with inadequate public transport for far too long. So I'm pleased that we are now benefitting from long and short term funding in transport services and infrastructure.
It is hugely reassuring that the Government recognises the importance of public transport, and I welcome the significant funding they have provided to South Yorkshire since I was elected.
Quite rightly, much of this government funding has been provided to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to decide how it is spent on the projects that the Authority believes are most important to local people. I work with the SYMCA to make the case for spending in communities that I represent and which will have benefits for the wider South Yorkshire economy. So I'm pleased that there's been such a wide range of central funding allocated to South Yorkshire recently but I'll be calling for more.
As I keep saying:
Good transport isn't just about getting from A to B – it’s about connecting people with well-paid jobs, training and education, hospital appointments, shops and other people, and it’s central to the development and sustainability of our local communities and the opportunities available to the people in them.
Transport projects that have already received funding
City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement - a £570 million five-year funding settlement devolved to SYMCA to invest in transport infrastructure across the county. Proposed projects include: upgrades to bus infrastructure such as interchanges, waiting shelters, real-time passenger information, and priority bus lanes; investment in active travel routes for cycling and walking, including the Trans-Pennine Trail; accessibility improvements at train stations, including lifts to platforms at Chapeltown and integration of a new Park & Ride at Penistone; and significant upgrade and renewal of the Supertram network, replacing track and infrastructure as well as improving tram stops and refurbishment or replacement of trams.
Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas - £8.4 million for South Yorkshire to invest in new zero emission buses. These will initially be trialled on routes in Barnsley and around central Sheffield, with a view to increasing the number of zero emission buses across the county in the future.
Transforming Cities Fund - £166 million to improve public transport, walking, and cycling infrastructure across South Yorkshire. Projects currently being developed using this money include improvements to facilities and accessibility at Barnsley station, a network of active travel routes connecting Sheffield city centre to the suburbs, and better road access to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.
Light Rail Restart Revenue Grant - more than £17 million provided by the Government to fund the continued operation and restart of Supertram services due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Huge falls in passenger numbers would have bankrupted Supertram and possibly led to the loss of the entire network without this emergency funding.
Supported Bus Services Funding - £13,000 to support the continuation of bus services provided by South Pennine Community Transport in rural areas such as Penistone, Thurlstone, Millhouse Green, Thurgoland, Wortley, and Crane Moor.
Restoring Your Railway - £50,000 awarded to SYMCA to fund the development of the Strategic Outline Business Case for my plan to restore passenger services on the existing freight line between Stocksbridge and Sheffield. This work is currently being undertaken by SYMCA and will be submitted to the Government later this year.
Access for All - a £20 million fund to improve disabled access at smaller railway stations across the country. This included money for improvements at Dodworth and Silkstone Common stations in our constituency.
Hope Valley Line Upgrade - a £137 million investment in the Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester. This will see upgrades to track and signalling to allow for extra services each hour and faster trains to run between the two cities, helping to connect South Yorkshire to the North West and beyond.
A61 Westwood Roundabout - £18.6 million to fund improvements to the A61 Westwood Roundabout and install new technology along the A628 to improve journey time reliability.
