Ten year Transport programme for the North West

Date published: 06/07/2006

Travellers and businesses across the North West will benefit from a ten-year programme of transport improvements to tackle congestion, improve safety and invest in public transport, the Government announced today when it responded to regional advice about the transport priorities for the region.

In July last year the Government asked the Regional Assembly, the Regional Development Agency and other partners for its advice on transport priorities for the £1.245 billion it has provisionally allocated for transport investment in the region up to 2015/16.

The Government's response broadly accepts the region's advice and means that the Government plans to fund 36 transport schemes in the North West over this period.

The improvements include:

* Approval to planned extensions to the Manchester Metrolink system to Oldham, Rochdale and Chorlton and a programme of track renewals on the existing Metrolink lines

* 2 further new schemes given approval for the first time today
- £11.8m scheme for emergency works for the Blackpool Tramway
- £13.5m to improve traffic management technology in the Greater Manchester area and help tackle congestion

This is in addition to five schemes already underway, twelve schemes which are already approved and currently in development and, as identified by the region, a further fifteen schemes that the Government will consider for approval in the future, once further work has been satisfactorily completed.

Gillian Merron Transport Minister said:

"The Government is investing record amounts in transport putting right decades of underinvestment. This money is delivering real improvements but we have been clear - lasting progress will only be made by sustained investment.

By giving regions a long term funding guideline and involving them in the decision making process, we have for the first time given them a bigger say in which transport schemes are delivered locally. Having considered their advice, I'm pleased we have been able to broadly accept it."