North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, has announced a £208 million investment in the region’s transport network, marking the first phase of an £800 million programme planned over the next three years. The funding aims to revitalise transport infrastructure and improve connectivity across the North East by 2027.
The announcement, made ahead of the North East Combined Authority Cabinet meeting, outlines a comprehensive plan focusing on key priorities, including:
- New North Shields Ferry Landing: Safeguarding the iconic Shields Ferry with a modern, improved service.
- Smart Ticketing Rollout: Expanding mobile and smart ticketing on the Tyne and Wear Metro and local rail services.
- Active Travel Infrastructure: Developing 100km of enhanced walking, wheeling, and cycling routes, including a coastal path from St Mary’s Lighthouse to Blyth and new links in Sunderland and Gateshead.
- Metro Station Upgrades: Installing new gatelines at key Metro stations to improve safety, particularly for women and girls, and to protect fare revenue.
- Accessibility and Safety Improvements: Enhancing bus stops and stations across the region to improve accessibility and integration.
- County Durham Funding: Allocating £23 million to integrate County Durham into the region’s main transport funding programme.
- Electric Vehicle Charging: Investing £15.8 million in up to 1,000 new EV charge points in residential areas and at key locations.
- Highways Maintenance: Providing an additional £21.7 million for highways maintenance in the next financial year.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said: “For too long we have put up with an inadequate transport network which is in urgent need of investment. Today I am pleased to confirm £208m of projects that I will deliver by 2027, revitalising our transport network and providing a more accessible, safer and better-connected system which will greatly benefit local people.
“I’m proud to confirm that I will fund a brand-new Ferry Landing in North Shields, the roll-out of smart ticketing on Metro and local rail, new gatelines to improve safety – especially for women and girls on our Metro system, £23m in funding for County Durham, 100km of better walking, wheeling and cycle routes, extra electric vehicle charge points and safer, more accessible bus stops and stations.
“I have been clear from the outset that I will invest in our transport system to create more opportunities for local people and I am delivering on that promise. I have bigger, longer-term plans for our region and we’ll be investing more in due course but this initial £208m is the first phase of a major £800m capital investment programme which we will roll-out over the next three years to revive our network, and improve public transport and active travel for all.
“We are rolling up our sleeves and getting on with the job at hand of investing heavily in transport to reverse the decades of under investment in the North East.”
The funding package, subject to approval by the Mayor and North East Combined Authority Cabinet, includes both ongoing and new investments across various transport modes. The projects are expected to be completed by 2027.
