Islington Council is celebrating the announcement of £5.7m from Transport for London (TfL) for the council's transport improvement programme in 2007/8.
Islington Council's consistently high allocation - this year's is the third highest in London - reflects the council's ability to deliver high quality transport schemes from road traffic casualty reduction to green travel plans and cycle safety programmes.
Islington is the current holder of Transport Borough of the Year 2006 (London Transport Awards) and won the title of Sustainable Transport Borough of the Year 2005 (TfL's Good Going Awards).
The successful bid means Islington Council won London's highest level of funding for safety schemes enabling the council to improve road safety around 20 schools.
Cllr Lucy Watt, Executive Member for Environment, Islington Council said: "This funding is essential to making Islington a cleaner, safer and greener borough.
"The new money will be spent on reducing accidents and provide improved facilities for greener transport alternatives such as cycling, walking and improving access to public transport.
"We recently announced our Sustainable Transport Strategy, outlining how the we will prioritise a huge range of transport improvements in the next 10 years. It's an exciting time for transport for travellers in Islington."
Funding will also be used to improve the borough's environment and air quality, and develop measures to reduce emissions from the council's fleet vehicles.
The good news follows Islington's approval in December of its Sustainable Transport Strategy (STS), setting out its transport objectives, policies and programmes for the next ten years.
Islington is now in line for a huge range of transport improvements between 2006 - 2016.
The council's Executive (5 December) agreed a plan to make the borough's transport environment safe, accessible, green and efficient.
Key targets have been set for road traffic accident reduction, increases in cycling and walking, and increased use of car clubs.
With anticipated population and jobs growth in the borough, Islington Council has identified better public transport and less congestion as playing an important role in regeneration. Areas such as Finsbury Park, Holloway Road and Archway could see increases in the number of transport journeys.
Cllr Lucy Watt, Executive Member for Environment, Islington Council, said: "As this year draws to a close the next decade promises to bring important developments for those travelling within the borough.
"With more people making more journeys, it's going to be more important than ever to reduce pollution and congestion.
"Our Sustainable Transport Strategy makes sure the right connections are in place to ensure maximum benefits for those travelling within and across Islington."
Ends
Notes to editors:
Among the targets of Islington's STS:
- significant reduction of road traffic casualties (in line with national 50% reduction in seriously injured and killed between 1994 and 2010)
- reduction in road traffic and congestion
- increase in walking (a 35% increase in trips per day between 2001 and 2015)
- increase in cycling (an 80% increase in trips per day between 2001 and 2011)
- expansion of the London Cycle Network
- school travel plans for every school
- car club vehicles available within ten minutes walk of all households
- every junction and crossing to be wheelchair accessible
For more details see www.islington.gov.uk/Transport/SustainableTransportStrategy
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008