Rochdale approves £40m transport boost
Funds for a quality bus transit corridor to improve bus links between the borough, Oldham, and Ashton were among those formally accepted by Rochdale Council at its cabinet meeting this week.
Rochdale Council was allocated £40m from Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s successful £1bn award from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement last year. The vote this week was to formally accept the funds, which have been allocated to six different projects.
According to council documents, £20m will go towards creating a quality bus transit corridor along the A627, benefiting those travelling between Rochdale, Oldham, and Ashton. The QBT corridor is meant to make journeys between the communities quicker and easier.
Another £3m is allocated for a bus priority scheme along the A58, which connects Bury, Heywood and Rochdale.
Queens Park Bridge in Heywood is set to receive £4.5m from CRSTS for structural maintenance and repairs.
The borough also received £11.7m for Streets for All programmes Heywood, Middleton, and Littleborough. These projects are focused on improving cycling and walking routes in the town centre, as well as enhancing the communities’ public realm.
In Littleborough, the money will also go towards a new bus interchange and station square.
Prior to the approval, Rochdale Council cabinet member for economy Cllr John Blundell said: “I’m really proud that we managed to secure such a substantial settlement from government and it’s testament to how good and well thought our plans are.
“This is a transformative sum of money and the vote next week is a major step forward,” he continued. “If successful, it will allow us to start putting these plans together in more detail.
“The huge improvements we’re planning will bring benefits to every part of the borough and transform the way people move around, making it significantly easier for them to get to where they need to be, either for work or leisure, while making sustainable choices which will support our carbon reduction agenda.”
Get ready for all the ungrateful comments from Littleborough residents.
By Rich X
Can no one see this is to get rid of 🚗
By Anonymous
This money could be used on housing ie build more council houses as I have been waiting 12months for a place to live I’ve lived in Rochdale all my life payed my dues and still can not get a house
By Wayne
Fantastic can’t wait , more ways to get out of rochdale
By Dave
Yeah is this part of the agenda 2030 by anychance you will have to give up your car
By Anonymous
We need a cycling corridor between Oldham and Rochdale via Shaw, Milnrow. Perhaps following the line of the tramway.
By Rick
It seems that Heywood yet again misses out in improvements to our lack of public of investment in our public transport. No shelter for us at bus stops. In fact your lucky if you can connect with anywhere easily. I hope Heywood people give our local councillors a hard time when they come round begging for vote’s.
By Heywood Commuter
They have already got a bus corridor from Oldham to Ashton why spend more money on it….
By Anonymous
Buses in Litteborough only go in two directions so just the shelters need improvement, but knowing TfGM they will find a way to waste two or three million pounds
By Martyn
Heywood Commuter – The image accompanying this story is Heywood. Heywood is actually the big winner in Rochdale Borough when it comes to CRSTS funding. Three different schemes mentioned in this article and £60m+ identified to support TramTrain.
By Local Interest