Reading sets out transport plans after government funding confirmed

Reading Borough Council will set out its transport priorities for the next four years after receiving confirmation of new government funding.

Reading has been awarded a transport capital grant of £33,667,100 over four years and a revenue grant of £4,883,100 over three years.

The funding will support new projects and allow existing schemes to continue.

Planned work includes changes to the Sidmouth Street highway layout, continued bus priority measures and improvements to bus services across the town.

Funding to support travel improvements

The funding will help deliver a range of transport projects and initiatives in Reading.

These include:

• continued delivery of bus priority measures
• enhanced bus services, including the Buzz 9 and 18 routes
• new electric buses
• improved passenger facilities at Mereoak park and ride
• the Bath Road and Castle Hill active travel scheme
• further programmes to encourage more walking and cycling

The projects are outlined in the council’s new local transport delivery plan, which will be submitted to the Department for Transport to confirm how the funding will be used.

The plan will first be presented to the council’s strategic Environment, Planning and Transport Committee on Wednesday 11 March.

Building on recent transport improvements

The delivery plan also highlights recent transport improvements in Reading which the council will build on.

These include:

• completion of the fifth phase of the South Reading Bus Rapid Transit scheme
• the opening of Reading Green Park station
• the redevelopment of Reading West station
• the Reading All-Bus multi-operator ticket scheme
• a package of bus service improvements

The council has also delivered an ongoing programme of highways resurfacing, traffic management, road safety, parking and street lighting maintenance.

Supporting sustainable travel

The council’s focus on sustainable travel has contributed to Reading having the third highest bus use in England outside London.

Use of the town’s railway stations has also increased, including a 43% rise in passenger numbers at Reading West station following its redevelopment in 2024.

Levels of active travel have also grown, with around 55,000 walking trips and 11,000 cycle trips made every day to and from Reading town centre.

Councillor comments

Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“I welcome the new finance arrangements from government which provide longer-term certainty and more flexibility for the council to decide how best to use the funding.

The council has successfully delivered major transport schemes and initiatives in recent years to improve travel options for residents with a focus on sustainable transport choices.

This has helped Reading achieve some of the highest levels of sustainable travel in the country, with consistent increases in bus and train use as well as cycling.

We have also seen record levels of investment into resurfacing Reading’s major and residential roads.

We are now looking to build on these achievements with a comprehensive programme of ambitious projects to take forward in the coming years.”