Cardiff to get £28.5m to fund sustainable transport

The Welsh Assembly and Cardiff council are each stumping up £14m to spend upgrading Cardiff's bicycle, bus, and parking facilities over the next two years.

The city has been chosen by the Welsh Government as the pathfinder for its Sustainable Travel Towns initiative – presumably on the basis that it is where the greatest need exists and that after sorting out Wales' biggest city everywhere else should be easy.

According to the Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones, if the multimillion pound investment from the Welsh Assembly Government is successful, this concept could be rolled out across Wales.

The money will be spent over the next two years and amongst other facilities will pay for improved cycling and walking routes, and a new cycling and walking crossing of the Ely river linking Penarth and the Sports Village complex. Other measures being funded include a free city-centre shuttle bus service connecting the city centre and the bay, and park and ride facilities on key commuting routes. These improvements will run in tandem with a programme of improved services including better travel information, journey sharing schemes, car clubs and free bike hire.

Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Commuter levels in and around Cardiff have increased significantly over the past few years. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and implement a range of innovative transport solutions which will benefit the 210,000 people who travel around the city on a daily basis."