Reading, Berkshire, will receive a £38.6 million funding boost from the central government to improve local transport over the next four years. Reading Borough Council will use the money to fund its new travel plan, which runs from 2026 to 2030.
The funding includes £33.7 million for building new transport projects and £4.9 million for running daily services. The council intends to use these funds to make bus journeys more reliable and to create safer routes for people walking and cycling around the town.
A major part of the project involves building a new bus lane heading into town on London Road. The council is working with Wokingham Borough Council to improve the Sutton Seeds Roundabout to help buses move more quickly through the area.
To create more space for the new bus lane and other traffic, the council plans to scale back the Sidmouth Street cycle lane. Officials believe this change will make the best use of the road while still supporting public transport users.
Reading currently has the third-highest number of bus passengers per person in England outside of London. To support this demand, eight new electric buses are expected to join the local fleet in the summer of 2026.
This investment follows a 43% increase in passengers at Reading West railway station after recent upgrades. The new four-year plan aims to build on this growth by making it easier for residents to travel across the borough.
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