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URBAN TRANSIT NEWS

Budget funds for light rail: Funding of GBP 280 million for transport, described as a 'down payment' on the ten-year investment plan, was announced in the UK budget. Of this GBP 30 million is going to the GBP 100 million plan to extend the Docklands Light Railway to the London City airport east of the capital. GBP 15m is allocated towards the preparatory work for the GBP 500m Manchester Metrolink 'Big Bang' scheme (see previous news item). GBP 65m is to go towards emergency repairs of escalators on London's Underground system and also to provide improved frequency on Northern, Central, Jubilee and District lines.

A further GBP 5 million will go towards 20 new bus schemes in rural areas and local authorities will receive GBP 30 million to spend on schemes for child safety and on establishing safe routes to schools. GBP14 million is to be set aside to enable pensioners in England and Wales to obtain free the proposed bus passes giving half price travel instead of for the earlier proposal for a GBP 5 fee.

The remainder will go on various road schemes which prompted Transport 2000 to comment 'This is very much the new face of the Government on transport policy - some support for public transport masking a downward slide into road building.'
26 March 2000

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