Rotherham: Bus journeys between Sheffield and Rotherham are set to improve thanks to £16m funding

Transport Minister, Baroness Kramer, has announced a £16m package of measures for Yorkshire buses.

The investment is vital to meet the transport demands in the area and will boost the local economy, supporting future growth in homes and jobs.

Baroness Kramer said: “This is great news for bus users between Sheffield and Rotherham who will benefit from quicker, more reliable services.”

“The Coalition Government is committed to investing in public transport to offer real transport choices for the people of Yorkshire.”

“Buses are a major link for many people, and help drive economic growth.”

“This £16m of investment will help unlock the next planned phases of development in the Lower Don Valley, and create up to 4,400 new jobs.”

The package includes a high quality Bus Rapid Transit service connecting the centres of Rotherham and Sheffield with each other and with existing and proposed development sites in the Lower Don Valley, a new highway link under the M1 between Meadowhall Way and Sheffield Road, highway modifications to provide BRT priorities at congested sections of the route, revised junction layouts and intelligent traffic signal control to provide BRT priority at junctions, high quality low emission vehicles and purpose built bus stops with real-time passenger information and off-vehicle ticketing facilities.

This announcement grants Full (final) Approval meaning work on the scheme can begin.

The Department will provide a maximum of £15.9m towards the full scheme cost of £28.2m.

The scheme was one of those given funding approval in late 2011 as part of the Spending Review process.

Work can now start on the construction with the project scheduled to complete in September 2015.