The funding is part of the Local Transport Capital Settlement given to local authorities to help them deliver vital improvements, including new road safety measures, better street lighting, road maintenance, park and ride facilities and cycle lanes.
To give local authorities greater certainty in planning for the coming years, this settlement provides year on year increases for a three year period to 2010/11, unlike previous years where funding was allocated annually.
The South East is a major contributor to the UK economy. As well as supporting around four million jobs, the region also provides a significant proportion of the labour market in London. An efficient transport system will play a key part in the region's future development, and the investment confirmed today will be used to support the sort of local transport schemes that deliver value for money, as well as significant benefits for communities.
Rosie Winterton said:
"The South East region is such an important part of our national economy, not only in the services and workforce it provides for London, but also as an area of enterprise and innovation in its own right.
"The £649m we are confirming today will go towards improvements in its transport network that can make a real difference to the people that live and do business here. It will help take forward schemes specifically targeted to improve safety, reduce congestion or upgrade facilities for pedestrians and cyclists - the sort of projects that can make a significant contribution towards helping the region meet its future challenges."
Minister for the South East, Jonathan Shaw, said:
"This significant investment in our regional transport infrastructure is excellent news for the South East economy. It is encouraging to see the success of schemes financed through previous Local Transport Capital Settlements, and this new funding will enable our local authorities to deliver further transport improvements."
Examples of recent projects funded by local transport settlements:
- The introduction of a pedestrian prioritised street in Brighton city centre. New Road has increased pedestrian flow by 162%, reduced traffic volume by 93% and resulted in a 22% increase in the number of cyclists.
- £3.1m towards Oxfordshire's Headington Roundabout re-construction to reduce traffic congestion and improve bus reliability.
- The introduction of 20mph speed limits on over half of Portsmouth's residential roads to improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The remainder will be completed by March 2008 as part of the £475,000 scheme.
- Continued improvements to the Fastway guided bus scheme in Crawley which now carries approximately 9000 passengers a day.
- School Safety Zones at 30 West Sussex schools to raise awareness of the need to travel more safely around schools. An additional 68 schemes will be delivered by 2010.
The South East will also benefit from £51.8m through the Specific Road Safety Grant announced last year. The grant means more money and flexibility for local authorities to deliver safer roads.
