Today, the UK government announced a £1.2 million investment to address unique transportation challenges in rural areas, awarding £150,000 to each of eight pioneering projects.
These projects leverage advanced technologies to enhance mobility, improve access to essential services, and promote greener travel options for rural residents.
The funding, part of the Rural Transport Accelerator Fund, aims to connect rural communities more effectively, support local economies, and contribute to the well-being of residents. In partnership with local authorities, small businesses across the UK will pilot innovative transport solutions in regions ranging from Norfolk and Herefordshire to Suffolk and southeast Scotland.
Among the selected projects are a digital tool to predict transport demand for on-demand services and a journey mapping tool to assist healthcare providers in coordinating hospital transport for patients in remote areas. These initiatives align with the government’s commitment to sustainable, accessible transport that meets rural needs.
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, commented: "Rural communities have specific transport needs, and we are committed to improving their connections. With this funding, we are revolutionizing rural transport, using cutting-edge solutions to help residents reach family, shops, and healthcare services more easily."
Selected Projects Include:
You.Smart.Thing: A digital tool offering shared, on-demand transport options for those without car access, set for trials in Warwickshire.
UrbanTide: A mapping tool analyzing rural patient journeys to address access barriers to healthcare, to be trialed near Fife.
Alchera Technologies: A travel behavior model using data insights to support rural mobility decisions, trialing with Norfolk County Council.
Civil Water Management: An innovative drainage system made from recycled car tires to enhance flood-prone cycle routes, trialing with Milton Keynes County Council.
Funding Priorities for 2025
This year’s funding program targeted various rural transportation needs:
Enhancing rural roads for daily travel.
Advancing sustainable and innovative rural mobility.
Exploring agricultural transportation improvements.
Fostering technology adoption in rural communities.
The initiative is managed in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transportation, and community development. Through these projects, the government hopes to make daily travel in rural areas smoother, safer, and more sustainable.
Connected Places Catapult’s Chief Executive Officer, Erika Lewis, said:
“I am delighted to welcome 8 exciting companies onto the Rural Transport Accelerator.
Their innovations and technologies promise to make a real impact for people living in rural areas, and I look forward to following their progress through the programme over the coming months”.