Bristol is one of three cities in England to be awarded funding to help it deliver further reductions in carbon emissions from transport, receiving £500,000 to support the development of projects which will improve its transport network.
The successful bid for Zero Emission Transport City funding, submitted in collaboration with the West of England Combined Authority, lays out plans to develop Bristol’s ambition to give people and companies more affordable and reliable options to travel and transport goods in a sustainable way.
The funding will be used to develop a series of feasibility studies. This includes the installation of charging points at council-run car parks and popular destinations. The council will also look to speed up the roll out of mobility hubs that pool shared transport providers at a single location.
Additionally, the funding will help develop a new Bristol Cycling Centre in Lawrence Weston and progress a new park and ride for the M32.
Feasibility studies will also be drawn up to deliver reduced emissions from transport in the city centre, electrification of a large proportion of Bristol’s bus fleet and the installation of on-street cycle hangars across the city.
The council will also consider greater use of freight consolidation centres as well as investment in last mile solutions, such as e-cargo bikes.
Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, said: “As the first city in the UK to declare a climate emergency, I am delighted we are taking the lead in becoming a zero emission transport city.
“To build a sustainable transport network we need to fundamentally transform the ways we all move around the city and region. These proposals demonstrate our vision to help us achieve net zero by 2030. That we were invited to bid for this money by the Department for Transport is a real sign that our efforts to reduce emissions are recognised at a national level.
“We’re taking bold steps to reduce emissions and encourage a diverse transport mix including introducing a bus gate at Bristol Bridge, investing in cycling, expanding Park and Ride and agreeing a major bus deal with local operators. This money will provide the platform to move us onto the next phases of delivering sustainable and low-carbon transport networks that benefit everyone.”
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