£26m to improve public transport in Portsmouth

Portsmouth City Council has secured £26m to improve travel in the city. 

The funding will be used to enhance public transport links by making travelling by bus and easier and therefore a more attractive option. 

The money will also be used to introduce a number of active travel schemes in order to support the recent rise in the number of people walking and cycling. 

The council will deliver nine schemes over a three-year period, it is hoped that these projects will address congestion got spots and it will also provide the infrastructure to make bus journeys quicker and more reliable. 

Project partners First Bus and Stagecoach have also committed to investing in 29 new high-quality low-emission buses for the Portsmouth city region. 

Cllr Lynne Stagg, Portsmouth’s cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: ‘These city schemes are a vital part of our emerging Local Transport Strategy and go a long way in providing greener, safer and healthier journeys for Portsmouth residents.

‘We’ll be introducing cleaner buses, and exploring how we can improve ticketing too. This investment means we are able to make significant progress with our plan to deliver a network of rapid transit services in the area.

‘Public transport has a vital role to play in driving our local economy whilst helping solve air quality challenges and protecting our environment.

‘This investment is great news for Portsmouth and South East Hampshire and we look forward to delivering the exciting public transport improvements included in the bid.’

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