The government are investing a further £4bn into delivering 'better, more integrated local transport' over the next three years, according to Transport Minister Rosie Winterton

The Local Transport Capital Settlement will allow local authorities to plan and fund important community projects, such as bus infrastructure improvements, cycle lanes, new road safety measures, better street lighting and road maintenance.

The funding announced today is in addition to the £7.9bn planned to fund major transport projects across the regions between 06/07 and 2015/16.

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Rosie Winterton said: "Well planned local transport can transform communities. We have already invested more than £8bn over the past seven years on projects to support this and I am today confirming £4bn of sustained investment to continue to support local transport for the next three years.

"Tackling congestion, improving road safety and providing genuine alternatives to the car are essential to people's quality of life and the economy. And without good local transport none of this is achievable."

The Local Transport Capital Settlement is allocated to local authorities to help them meet the needs of their communities. Today's investment includes £2,268m for highways capital maintenance and £1,768m for smaller transport improvement schemes.

Local authorities will also benefit from a share of a £286m grant to improve road safety over three years, announced last year.

(GK/JM)