The Welsh Assembly has allocated an extra £5.1M to its safe routes to school programme as part of its £101.4M funding package for improving the country’s transport infrastructure.
The transport grant settlement, despite being almost £24M less than last year’s grant, will provide local authorities with money for road and rail schemes, integrated transport packages, walking and cycling networks and the safe routes to school initiative. Some 55 schools across Wales will be given a share of the £5.1M package, that will go towards improving access to schools in a safe and environmentally friendly way, including implementing traffic calming measures and construction of cycle and footpaths.
The grant also includes allocating £44.3M toward road schemes throughout the country. Newport stands to benefit with £9.5M worth of works on the Newport Southern Distributor Road, infrastructure works for the 2010 Ryder Cup and the Tredegar Park junction improvement.
The Assembly will spend £24M on integrated transport packages, including £7.9M spent on Swansea for bus corridors, enhancing rural accessibility and other packages for the area. Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks Andrew Davies said: ‘With increased support for walking and cycling schemes, including additional investment in the safe routes to school initiative, we are building on our commitment to make walking and cycling to school not only a healthy option for children, but a safe option.’