Hampshire waits on Government funding decision to improve travel

Monday, 25 June 2012

The decision on whether the Government will fund a multi-million pound package of travel improvements to tackle congestion and support economic growth in South Hampshire is eagerly awaited by the Transport for South Hampshire (TfSH) partnership over the coming weeks.

£18 million bid

TfSH is a partnership between Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council covering the Solent area, and is one of only 13 areas in the UK to have made the final selection invited to produce a full business case to the Department for Transport, bidding for £18 million.

Reducing traffic congestion

The proposals in the bid include smart ticketing for bus and ferry travel, better information for public transport passengers and improved provision of bus priority, walking and cycling as well as a range of initiatives to encourage people to take up alternative ways of travel to save them time and money, as well as reducing the overall traffic congestion on the roads.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Chairman of Transport for South Hampshire and Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said:

"While South Hampshire already makes a significant contribution to the economy not only of Hampshire but the whole of the South East, improving the ability to get around is key to the economic prospects of this area . We need to help Hampshire's residents and businesses by ensuring people can get to areas of employment and education in a reliable way and one that is cost effective for them. We need to ensure they have options and information available, and we need to do whatever we can to tackle congestion to ensure Hampshire keeps moving not only to safeguard the quality of life we are rightly proud of, but also to position this county as one that is economically competitive.

"If we should be successful in this bid, the funding will enable us to put a number of wide ranging initiatives in place to significantly improve how people can travel around, to work, to school or college and for shopping and leisure - all of which are essential to the economic success of Hampshire in the future."

About Transport for South Hampshire (TfSH)

TfSH works in partnership with Government, other key public sector bodies and a range of private sector organisations (including transport providers) to identify innovative ways of reducing the need to travel by car, manage demand and make the best use of existing infrastructure and strategic investment in key projects; supporting economic growth and reducing carbon emissions throughout the area.

• Transport for South Hampshire

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