The new infrastructure programme will cover new 'pop-up' walking and cycling routes or temporary improvements to existing routes. It will be supported by a package of guidance and support to local authorities from Transport Scotland and Sustrans Scotland for improvements such as widened pavements and cycle lanes.
The money is being reallocated from an 鈥榓ctive travel鈥� programme that local authorities can normally apply to every year. Every year, Transport Scotland and Sustrans Scotland run the 鈥楶laces for Everyone鈥� active travel infrastructure initiative. However, the impact of Covid-19 means that local authorities will not have the capacity to design and apply for complex multi-year infrastructure programmes as they are focused on responding to the outbreak. As such, up to 拢10m is being reallocated from the 鈥楶laces for Everyone鈥� budget to deliver the new 鈥楽paces for People鈥� initiative. No match funding is required from local authorities and previously committed projects will continue to be supported.
Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity Michael Matheson said: 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased we are able to put forward a package of support for our local authorities to implement temporary active travel measures, helping to ensure that people can walk, cycle and wheel during this public health emergency whilst physically distancing and keeping safe from traffic.
鈥淚 have written to every local authority in Scotland to advise them that the 鈥楽paces for People鈥� initiative is designed with agility and pace in mind. Our communities need this support quickly, especially with the welcome increases in cycling we are seeing across the country. At the same time, almost every journey starts and ends on our pavements in some way, and so it is vitally important that people can physically distance for those essential trips or for exercise.鈥�
John Lauder, deputy CEO at Sustrans Scotland, said: 鈥淲e welcome the Scottish Government鈥檚 package of support and we are ready to respond to local authorities鈥� needs.聽 With our local authority partners we have helped turn around this idea in less than two weeks and it鈥檚 great to work with a government that listens and engages so actively.
It鈥檚 clear that people across Scotland want to do the right thing during this Covid-19 crisis.聽 They want to look after their physical and mental health.聽 They also want to make sure that they are keeping to physical distancing guidelines while still being safe on our streets.聽 The 鈥楽paces for People鈥� programme will allow that.鈥�
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