Local Growth Fund transport schemes update - North East Local Enterprise Partnership

A number of transport schemes in receipt of funding from the Local Growth Fund have recently been approved or work has commenced. These include:

Central Metro Station
In July 2015, approval was granted for the release of £2.51m of funding from the Local Growth Fund for the Central Metro Station improvement scheme. The scheme involves the high quality refurbishment of Central Metro Station to provide a top class passenger experience at a key transport hub and construction began in September.

Coast Road
Approval for the release of £6.523m of funding from the Local Growth Fund for the Coast Road scheme was granted in July 2015. The scheme is planned to deliver a wide range of multi-modal benefits, including journey time and reliability improvements for bus and car users, as well as accessibility and safety enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists. Advanced utilities works are due to start late this month/ early next month with implementation of the scheme scheduled for January 2016.

TfN
The North East region continues to play an active role in the Transport for the North (TfN) partnership, bringing together transport authorities from across the North to promote investment in key inter-city and inter-regional connections across the north of England. The NELEP is represented on the TfN Board.

TfN has appointed a new Chief Executive, the former Chief Executive/Director General of Merseytravel David Brown. The process to appoint an independent Chair before the end of 2015 is also underway, with plans in place to develop TfN into a statutory body by 2017. The government have announced that they will propose amendments to the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill to put this into effect.

Trans Atlantic Flight
United Airlines have announced that their seasonal nonstop service between Newcastle and its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, will return in summer 2016. The flights will operate six times weekly during the period May 26, 2016 to September 6, 2016.