The Sheffield City Council has unveiled its new mobility strategy entitled Connecting Sheffield. The project means to completely revolutionize transport in the city, making it easier for citizens to choose walking, cycling and public transport instead of their own personal vehicles. This transformation will allow Sheffield to become healthier, more active and, of course, more environmentally friendly.
Connecting Sheffield to the future of mobility
The Connecting Sheffield scheme has been made possible thanks to the City Council’s successful bid for 50 million pounds in funding from the Department of Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. The funds will be used to improve walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure which will make them more competitive to their alternatives and more convenient for citizens.
The initial transformation is essential for enacting the Sheffield City Council’s vision of overhauling transport in the city as the local government places a strong emphasis on reducing the reliance on car journeys and other highly polluting mobility alternatives. The first phase of the project will focus on areas in Sheffield that have been identified as key junctures through which citizens make short journeys to and from work – namely the city centre and Lower Don Valley, including Neepsend, Kelham and Nether Edge.
Cabinet Member for Transport and Development at Sheffield City Council, Councillor Bob Johnson stated that “Connecting Sheffield is a major first step in overhauling our transport network to put walking, cycling and public transport at the forefront of travel choices available in our city….
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in walking and cycling as people have taken the time to get outdoors and explore both their local communities and our wonderful parks and countryside, and we hope to make it possible for more people to continue to do this.
Despite current restrictions, bus services will also remain a crucial part of our transport infrastructure into the future, helping thousands of people to get about. Although improving travel infrastructure may not seem like a priority right now, this work is vitally important in making sure our transport system is fit for purpose so that people can get to work, access services and visit family and friends now and in the future. We know we have a long way to go to get where we need to be, but we are excited to be able to make a start.”
Source: TheMayor.EU
