This £1.6 billion statement of intent is the largest transport investment in our region's history
Mayor Steve Rotheram has revealed plans for a £1.6bn investment in Liverpool City Region’s public transport including new railway stations, rapid transit links and smart ticketing across the entire network.
The city region’s biggest ever public transport investment is designed to better connect communities, including major new housing developments, while boosting productivity, driving economic growth and unlocking regeneration.
The Transport for City Region (TCR) settlement was secured in June and confirmed by the Chancellor ahead of this year’s Spending Review. Liverpool City Region is breaking new ground as the first Combined Authority to showcase its ambitious plans for TCR investment – paving the way for faster, greener, and more connected journeys across the region.
Network improvements are expected to result in a 20 per cent increase in residents able to access Liverpool City Centre by public transport within 30 minutes as well as a marked increase in the number of residents being directly linked to town centres across the region.
The funding is also set to lead to a 20 per cent increase in residents living within 800 metres of a step-free rail station.
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "This £1.6 billion settlement is the largest transport investment in our region's history and a massive statement of intent towards delivering the greener, more accessible, more affordable and better-connected public transport system our 1.6 million residents deserve.
"Fundamentally, this long-term plan is about inclusive growth. That means new, step-free rail stations, rapid transit links, and smart ticketing that connects communities directly to jobs, new homes, cultural attractions, and of course major regeneration projects."
The funding will help to unlock significant large-scale regeneration projects in Bootle, Huyton, Birkenhead and other town centres across the region. This includes supporting the planned residential and commercial development in Liverpool North, which has the potential to bring forward more than 10,000 new homes – including thousands of affordable homes.
Other key schemes include new rail stations to serve the Baltic triangle district as well as in Carr Mill and Woodchurch. Bus priority improvements will be made to the M57 at Prescot reducing journey times, and active travel improvements will support key residential and commercial developments, as well as a direct cycle link from Widnes to St Helens.