PLANS for future transport investment in Cumbria and the wider North of England have been outlined at an event marking the publication of a 30-year plan to drive economic growth.

Transport for the North’s (TfN) Strategic Transport Plan outlines how connections across the North of England need to be improved to close the economic gap between the North and the rest of the country.

The public is now being asked to share their thoughts on the proposals through a 13-week consultation.

Aimed at rebalancing the UK’s economy through a sustained 30-year programme of transport infrastructure investment, the plan could deliver a £100 billion boost to the economy and 850,000 additional jobs by 2050.

While a full list of required improvements has not yet been published, emerging priorities include major improvements to the A590 and A595 road routes, and to the Cumbrian Coast railway line and upgrading West Coast Mainline stations to ensure they are ready for the arrival of HS2.

Cllr Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and fleet, said: “Cumbria is an important part of the northern economy, but improved transport infrastructure is critical in supporting businesses, local communities and our future economic growth.

“We’ve worked closely with TfN to help develop this plan and we’re very keen to hear what people and businesses in Cumbria think of it.”

TfN is working to make it easier for people and goods to travel across the region, increasing access to jobs, supporting businesses and improving the movement of freight and goods across the North and to its ports and airports. Seven ‘corridors’ of opportunity are identified in the plan that are key to achieving these aims.

John Cridland, Transport for the North chairman, said: “Our plan proposes a revolutionary investment programme that will make it possible to travel to high quality jobs. This is an ambitious programme that will improve our roads and railways, and will also drive a sea change in skills development in the North and ensuring we meet that historic gap in investment.”

TfN has also outlined its vision for Northern Powerhouse Rail, a rapid, reliable and resilient rail network between the North’s six biggest cities and other economic centres. This is accompanied by an updated rail strategy for investment in the North’s existing rail infrastructure, reflecting the planned integration of Rail North into TfN in April this year.

In the short-term, TfN has commenced a rolling programme from now until 2021 to introduce integrated and smart ticketing across the North of England to make paying for and planning travel easier.

The investment priorities are backed up by research that links the North’s prime capabilities in advanced manufacturing, digital, energy and health innovation. The cost of the 30-year plan is estimated to equate to less than £150 per northern citizen per year, or £2-2.3 billion per year.

This figure also includes spending which would already be expected as part of ongoing strategic transport investment in the North, with only £50 per person per year (£700-900 million per year) additional spending.

The public consultation will run until April 17, with engagement events taking place across the North, including in Kendal on February 21.

A final version of the plan will be published later in the year and submitted to the Government for ministerial consideration.

Find out more by visiting www.transportforthenorth.com