The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has begun preparation to submit a 1.45 billion GBP Transport for City Regions (TCR) programme to Government.
The programme as a whole will aim to support improvements to public transport, renew and maintain existing infrastructure, unlock housing and economic growth, improve road safety and create better neighbourhoods across the region.
Developed in collaboration with the region’s four local authorities, the programme will support a move toward bus franchising, the continued renewal of the Supertram fleet and infrastructure, funding for major rail project such as the Rotherham Gateway and Waverley stations, improve transport links supporting the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and deliver more than £141 million of investment for local neighbourhoods across South Yorkshire.
The programme forms a key part of South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard’s strategy to establish a fully integrated South Yorkshire People’s Network, which aims to connect communities with jobs, education, healthcare and opportunities across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said:I’ve been clear we need a world-class public transport system, to offer people real freedom and choice about how they travel and move right across South Yorkshire and build the transport network our communities deserve.
Funding through the Transport for City Regions programme would help make that vision a reality, supporting investment in better buses, a renewed Supertram network, stronger rail connections, improved links to Doncaster Sheffield Airport and better neighbourhoods across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
This investment will help connect people to jobs, education, healthcare and opportunities, support economic growth and bring us another step closer to delivering our South Yorkshire People's Network.
The programme will include significant investment to improve bus priority measures on key routes, whilst a new a regional bus shelter improvement programme will help create a more consistent and accessible experience for passengers.
Projects set to benefit from the programme include:
- Barnsley – Dearne Valley Parkway bus and pedestrian improvements, Goldthorpe Highgate Crossroads improvements; Trans Pennine Trail upgrades and new walking, wheeling and cycling connections
- Doncaster – Improvements linked to community masterplans in Hexthorpe, Bentley, Intake, Lower Wheatley, Stainforth and Armthorpe; city centre crossing upgrades and walking, wheeling and cycling improvements
- Rotherham – Effingham Street Gateway improvements; Eastwood and Parkgate bridge enhancements and public realm and placemaking projects
- Sheffield – Darnall neighbourhood improvements; Five Weirs Walk restoration ; Moorfoot Mobility Hub and new walking, wheeling and cycling connections across the city
The proposed programme was approved by the Mayoral Combined Authority Board this month and will be submitted to Government as part of South Yorkshire’s wider Transport Delivery Programme.
Subject to approval, delivery will begin from April 2027 and continue through to 2032.
