SYMCA makes its case on transport
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is preparing to submit its £1.45bn Transport for City Regions programme to government, with priorities including Rotherham Gateway and Waverley railway stations, along with links to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Developed in partnership with the region’s four local authorities, the programme will support the move to bus franchising, continue the renewal of Supertram fleet and infrastructure, fund major rail projects such as those above – the first of which would plug central Rotherham back into the network for the first time since the 1960s.
Also front of mind is putting in services so that people can access the reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport, In all, SYMCA said it plans to deliver more than £141m of investment in local neighbourhoods across South Yorkshire as Mayor Oliver Coppard looks to make good on his ambition of creating a fully integrated South Yorkshire People’s Network.
Coppard said: “I’ve been clear we need a world-class public transport system, to offer people real freedom and choice about how they travel and move right across South Yorkshire and build the transport network our communities deserve.
“Funding through the Transport for City Regions programme would help make that vision a reality, supporting investment in better buses, a renewed Supertram network, stronger rail connections, improved links to Doncaster Sheffield Airport and better neighbourhoods across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
“This investment will help connect people to jobs, education, healthcare and opportunities, support economic growth and bring us another step closer to delivering our South Yorkshire People’s Network.”
The programme includes major investment in:
- Bus franchising, supporting the move to a publicly controlled bus network
- Supertram renewal, helping secure the network’s long-term future
- Highway maintenance and network resilience
- Local transport improvements across all four boroughs
The programme also includes significant investment to improve transport links supporting the wider Gateway East opportunity, including improved connectivity to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
A new public transport enhancement programme will deliver bus priority measures on key routes, while a regional bus shelter improvement programme will help create a more consistent and accessible experience for passengers.
Funding will support the continued renewal of South Yorkshire’s Supertram network through investment in track, fleet, facilities and passenger information systems. Further funding will help develop plans for future tram extensions.
More than £125m has been identified to support the development and delivery of rail priorities including projects like Rotherham Gateway station, Waverley station and improving Sheffield’s mainline station.
The programme will also fund accessibility and connectivity improvements at stations including Chapeltown, Hatfield and Stainforth, Thorne North and Conisbrough, alongside a wider package of upgrades across the rail network.
The £141.1m Better Neighbourhoods programme will fund improvements to local streets, crossings, public spaces and walking, wheeling and cycling links across the region.
Projects will include investment in improving public transport journeys and road safety across the region, with some examples below:
Barnsley
- Dearne Valley Parkway bus and pedestrian improvements
- Goldthorpe Highgate crossroads improvements
- Trans Pennine Trail upgrades
- New walking, wheeling and cycling connections
Doncaster
- Improvements linked to community masterplans in Hexthorpe, Bentley, Intake, Lower Wheatley, Stainforth and Armthorpe
- City centre crossing upgrades
- Walking, wheeling and cycling improvements
Rotherham
- Effingham Street Gateway improvements
- Eastwood and Parkgate bridge enhancements
- Public realm and placemaking projecct
Sheffield
- Darnall neighbourhood improvements
- Five Weirs Walk restoration
- Moorfoot mobility hub
- New walking, wheeling and cycling connections across the city
The proposed programme was approved by the combined authority board this month and will be submitted to government as part of South Yorkshire’s wider Transport Delivery Programme.
Subject to approval, delivery will begin from April 2027 and continue through to 2032.
