Trafford is getting a £4.7m slice of a £40.7m investment into Greater Manchester’s active travel infrastructure.
Greater Manchester bosses say they want to deliver the largest active travel network in the country, with a report promising to make improvements for those walking, wheeling, or cycling.
‘Wheeling’ is a definition which includes wheeled mobilities such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters, as well as ‘rollator’ walkers.
The Department for Transport’s Active Travel England body has confirmed it will award £23.7m to the city region as part of a wider boost to active travel funding across the country, with Greater Manchester’s sum the largest regional settlement in the UK.
In addition, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is due to approve the release of £17m from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund for four major active travel schemes when leaders meet next week.
GMCA leaders will also be asked to approve the £17m drawdown at their next meeting on Friday, May 26 as part of the wider delivery of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s vision for an integrated London-style transport system.
Funding due to be rubber-stamped includes £4,751,389 for three cycle optimised protected signals (CYCLOPS) junctions on Talbot Road in Trafford, a further £2,951,594 for the Lord Street-Rock Street scheme in Oldham town centre, as well as £4,312,386 for the Bee Network Crossings programme across Greater Manchester, and £4,998,000 for improved active travel infrastructure in Bolton town centre east.
According to Transport for Greater Manchester, both sources of investment will enable Greater Manchester to progress with its long-term ambition to create the largest walking, wheeling and cycling network in the country, and further unlock the health and environmental benefits of active travel for people across the city-region.
What Trafford is getting
Our borough is set to get £4.7m from the Mayor's Challenge Fund for three upgraded 'Cyclops' junctions at the junction of Talbot Road and White City Way, Great Stone Road and A56/Chester Road - with the idea that it will provide priority to those walking, wheeling or cycling, according to the Greater Manchester report recommending approval of the funding.
What is a CYCLOPS?
CYCLOPS stands for Cycle Optimised Protected Signals.
The junction type can be seen already in parts of Greater Manchester including Manchester, Salford, and Bolton, and converts usual junctions to have dedicated cycle paths with traffic signal timings separate to those of motor traffic – removing potential conflict or crashes from both modes of transport.
What else is in the pipeline?
Trafford Council is currently consulting on potential schemes for a future Mayor's Challenge Fund bid.
The project will provide improved junctions, crossings, and segregated cycle tracks.
Active Travel Commissioner hails ‘sign of confidence’
Dame Sarah Storey, Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, said: “The news of this funding award from Active Travel England is a sign of confidence in the plan we have here in Greater Manchester for the development of our Active Travel network.
“It's vital that we are linking to the wider public transport system and building a Bee Network that provides genuine journey choice for residents and visitors alike.
“The new funding, as well as the funding drawn down from the Mayor's Challenge Fund, will be used across all 10 boroughs on a variety of infrastructure projects.
“The key focus remains that a universally accessible network is the aim and so the projects vary from segregated and accessible paths and crossings, to secure cycle storage and upgraded junctions.
“I am looking forward to seeing all of the funded projects come to life as they will further add to the high quality, comprehensive network of active travel routes that are needed across the region."
Where is the rest of the funding going?
The £23.7m given by Active Travel England has been allocated to 13 schemes in total, including a new active travel corridor along Chapel Street in Salford and a striking cycling and walking ‘helix ramp’ as part of the new Stockport Interchange.
The 180m spiral ramp will link a new rooftop park to the River Mersey and the TransPennine trail, and to a wider network of cycling, walking and wheeling routes.
The ramp will provide a seamless link for users to walk, wheel or cycle to the new park from ground level, and vice-versa.
The first phase of Salford's Chapel Street East scheme, between New Bailey Street and Blackfriars, will make it easier and safer for people travelling on foot or by bike by providing high quality cycle lanes, as well as improved footways and crossing provision.
The other 11 schemes set to benefit from Active Travel England’s award in Greater Manchester include:
- Parkhills Road/Heywood Street signalised junctions, Bury.
- Radcliffe Metrolink Active access package, Bury.
- Stockport East to Romiley Bee Network route, Stockport.
- Ladybrook Valley Phase 2, Stockport.
- Heatons Link Phase 2, including new crossings, Stockport.
- Manchester Cycleway – ‘Yellow Brick Road’ improvements, Manchester.
- Manchester Cycleway CYCLOPs junction at Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield, Manchester.
- City Centre Bee Network: Islington, Salford.
- Walking and wheeling facilities at signal junctions programme, GM-wide.
- Cycle parking grant for public transport, GM-wide.
- Cycle parking grant for schools and NHS sites, GM-wide.
With approximately five million journeys made on Greater Manchester’s road network each day, bosses hope investment in active travel infrastructure will enable people to opt for different modes of transport to reduce congestion.
Mayor weighs in
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “The scale of our ambition in transforming how people get around is huge; with a target for one million extra journeys being made on public transport or by bike or foot every day by 2040.
“To meet this challenge head-on we are delivering our transformational Bee Network, which will make travelling easier, cheaper and more accessible and connect our trams and buses – and ultimately local train services – with the largest cycling, walking and wheeling network anywhere in the UK.
“It is great news that all 10 of our boroughs will benefit from more than £40m being invested in active travel schemes across the city-region.”
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