£3.6m boost for active travel in Glasgow

Projects that encourage walking, wheeling and cycling in Glasgow are to receive a £3.6m cash injection after the council secured funding from Places for Everyone - an active travel infrastructure programme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans.

The funding will help progress a range of projects including the Govan City Network active travel route as well as several Liveable Neighbourhood projects that make it easier for people to access services, facilities, and amenities within a short walk, wheel, cycle, or public transport journey from home.

Glasgow's Transport Strategy has set a target of reducing car vehicle kilometres by at least 30% in support of the city's ambition to become a net zero carbon city by 2030, acknowledging that a widespread shift to active travel and public transport is essential for the fight against climate change.

The £3.6m package of funding will further the development of several projects, providing a boost of £2.29m for the Govan City Network, £1.19m for three Liveable Neighbourhoods projects and £136,504 for Flourishing Moledinar, a community inspired project focused on walking, wheeling and cycling, and pedestrian safety.

The Govan City Network will be developed to more detailed technical design. At 20km in length, it will be the first area-based network to be progressed as part of wider plans for active travel infrastructure across Glasgow that ensures easy access to safe, segregated routes.

Covering Govan and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital area, the network will serve several communities and provide a direct route into the city centre via Paisley Road West. The infrastructure will also link into the City Deal funded Govan-Partick Bridge which is currently under construction.

Several Liveable Neighbourhoods projects will also benefit from continued progression, including the transformation of Saracen Street's historic town centre, and the development of a key active travel route north of Hamiltonhill on the site of a former railway.  

The money will also move forward plans for rebalanced roadspace and public realm improvements in Cessnock, which will be developed alongside the Govan City Network and Glasgow City Region Bus Partnership activity on Paisley Road West.

Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate and Transport, welcomed the funding award which will help progress projects that make active travel more viable, reduce unnecessary car journeys, and encourage people to live more locally.

Councillor Millar said: "This funding award will help take forward our ambitious sustainable transport plans for Glasgow, supporting the development of active travel infrastructure across the city.

"This investment will support the further development of our City Network in the Govan area, to deliver high quality cycleways and improved footways along main roads.

"It will also move forward plans to improve the Dummy Railway footpath that connects Panmure Street with Bilsland Drive in the north of the city, to create an accessible walking and wheeling route that directly links with local bus and rail services. 

"And town centres in Cessnock and at Saracen Street could see major upgrades to their public realm and connectivity to other areas, taking forward projects from our ambitious Liveable Neighbourhood Plans to transform these local areas.

"There is clearly a desire for change in Glasgow for a move to more sustainable ways to travel that also deliver environmental benefits and make our neighbourhoods better places to live. 

"The funding we have received from Places for Everyone is a significant boost for the city which will help us to progress our ambitions."

Minister for Active Travel, Patrick Harvie said: "I'm pleased that Glasgow City Council will now take advantage of a further £3.6 million from the Scottish Government - all aimed at transforming active travel infrastructure across the city.

"From Govan to Possilpark, more people will have opportunities to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys and on infrastructure which is safer and more accessible than ever before.

"This supports our vision of making active travel the most popular way to travel for shorter everyday trips. We're already investing record amounts and by 2024-25, we will be investing over £320 million, or 10% of the total transport budget on active travel. This will create healthier and happier communities, right across the country, which will benefit people and our environment."

Karen McGregor, Scotland Director for Sustrans said: "We're delighted to be able to award this latest batch of Scottish Government funding to Glasgow City Council through our Places for Everyone programme.

"This huge investment of £3.6m in active travel will help ensure walking, wheeling, and cycling project designs are safer and more accessible than ever, and that people living and working all across the city are able to get where they need to go with ease."

Local communities will be consulted on all projects as they develop, with future construction taken forward through funding opportunities as they become available.

Acceptance of the Sustrans funding package was approved by the council's City Administration Committee on 20 April 2023.