Ken Skates AM, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Today I am allocating £30.780 million in transport grants to local authorities across Wales for schemes that support my economic priorities for jobs and growth, promote economic activity through improved access to employment, encourage active and sustainable travel and connect communities. All local authorities were invited to submit applications for funding and over 62 applications were received.
The Local Transport Fund of £22.7 million will support 22 schemes across 15 local authorities, North Wales Metro of £3.531m will support 10 schemes across 4 Local Authorities and the Local Transport Network Fund of £4.1 million will support 17 schemes across 13 Local Authorities.
The grants include over £20 million to improve integrated public transport. I am delighted to announce that this includes £3.6 million to begin construction of the new bus interchange in Merthyr Tydfil. In north Wales, I am investing over £2.2 million to improve bus journey times and passenger facilities in Flintshire and a further £380,000 in the Conwy Council area. I am allocating over £3 million to local authorities across mid and south west Wales to enhance public transport corridors and interchange.
The grants are a substantial investment to support sustainable local economic growth and recovery from COVID-19, enhance public transport facilities, create and improve routes that will encourage more people in Wales to walk and cycle.
I am also allocating £1.9 million in ultra low emission vehicle transformation fund grants to local authorities across Wales for schemes that support my priorities for the decarbonisation of transport in Wales. I have also asked officials to work with local authorities to further develop applications valued at over £6 million, which need to be refined before we can allocate funding support. All local authorities were invited to submit applications for funding and 29 applications were received.
The grants support funding for an electric vehicle charging hub in Carmarthenshire, a feasibility study for solar ports in Gwynedd, charging provision at a park and ride in Anglesey, and charging points for taxis and private hire vehicles across the Cardiff City Region.
The grants represent the first investments under the £29 million ultra low emission vehicle transformation fund. Further investments to support our ambitions for zero emission buses, taxis and private hire vehicles, and to increase charging points for electric vehicles are being developed.
A full list of successful schemes by local authority will be published on the Welsh Government website.
Local transport fund: grants awarded 2020 to 2021
Ultra low emission vehicle transformation fund: grants awarded 2020 to 2021