The Minister was speaking as he met with Wardie Primary pupils currently taking part in a Sustrans’ I-bike project, one of a range of initiatives which will benefit from this funding, details of which he announced today.
Mr Brown said: "This Scottish Government is committed to promoting sustainable and active travel. The Future Transport Fund provides opportunities to invest further in low-carbon transport, working with a range of delivery bodies across the country.
"One of our key priorities now is to create the conditions for change, and in Scotland at the current time that means a focus on sustainable economic growth. These investments will support that goal through the opportunities for Scottish businesses, as well as the wider benefits to society.
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"Through this capital investment package totalling £11m over 2012/13 and 2013/14, Transport Scotland will take forward a range of sustainable transport initiatives, including cycling infrastructure, freight modal shift and low carbon vehicles, and reduce the impact of transport on our environment.
"While current budget constraints mean some projects will be delivered in the longer term, we are committed to increasing the funds available from Future Transport Fund over the next few years. This initial £11m provides a platform on which to build further developments in these different areas of sustainable transport."
John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland, said: "We’re delighted that the Minister has chosen to launch the Future Transport Fund at a school that Sustrans is working with to successfully increase the number of children walking and cycling to school. It’s a strong endorsement of the role of active travel in the government’s plans for delivering sustainable transport.
"Active travel schemes deliver a real return on investment and I hope the government will continue to fund such projects. Funding active travel initiatives, such as those within government’s own Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, provide they key to low-cost solutions for dealing with Scotland’s obesity crisis and meeting our ambitious carbon targets."
An announcement will be made early in 2013 about the allocation of an additional £18.75m in 2014/15 which will continue the development of these areas of low-carbon investment. The total budget available to the Fund will be £20.25m in 2015/16.
These allocations will also draw in additional resources from local government and the UK government, as well as the private sector, enabling significant enhancement of the benefits it will bring.
(GK/DW)
