Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has welcomed significant funding from Welsh Government for a wide range of transport projects across the County Borough in 2026/27 to support improvements to highways, public transport, active travel and road safety.
Based on the Council’s successful awards for the year ahead, the funding package for Rhondda Cynon Taf schemes totals over £5 million. The successful projects span major future transport schemes, local active travel improvements, safe routes in communities, road safety initiatives and better public transport connections.
The Welsh Government funding is delivered via Cardiff Capital Region Regional Transport Fund 26/27, and includes:
- £2.01 million for the Cynon Gateway Link Road helping the Council continue to develop this important future highway link in the north of the Cynon Valley, improving connectivity between the A4059 and the A465, easing local transport pressures and supporting longer-term economic growth in the area.
- £1.369 million for Porth Park and Ride Phase 3 supporting the next phase of extra parking provision linked to the Porth Transport Hub and wider South Wales Metro improvements, making it easier for people to combine car, rail and bus journeys.
- £150,000 for Pontypridd Northern Gateway to improve access to Pontypridd Bus Station and support better sustainable transport connections in the wider town centre area.
- £660,000 for the Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor community route to progress the active travel design linked to the Llanharan corridor proposals and wider area, with the aim of making local journeys easier, safer and more accessible, while encouraging more walking, wheeling and cycling.
- £390,000 for active travel minor works, scheme development, monitoring, promotion and the Active Travel Network Map update enabling the Council to progress smaller walking and cycling improvements, develop future schemes and continue promoting active travel for everyday journeys.
- £298,900 for the Penywaun Safe Routes in Communities scheme supporting safer routes around Pen-Y-Waun Primary School, helping improve pedestrian safety and encouraging more active school journeys.
- £94,600 for road safety education, training and publicity to continue the Council’s work to raise awareness, provide practical training and promote safer road use across communities and schools.
- £150,000 for speed cameras through a regional road safety allocation to support targeted speed management measures and wider road safety improvements at key locations.
Also awarded was £75,000 for the Abernant Tunnel linking Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. This is a cross-boundary scheme that will be led by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, helping progress the long-term ambition for better active travel links between the two areas.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “We very much welcome this important Welsh Government funding, which will help us continue delivering a wide range of transport improvements right across Rhondda Cynon Taf. It supports everything from major strategic schemes like the Cynon Gateway Link Road and Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor, to practical local improvements such as safer school routes, road safety activity, active travel connections and better public transport access.
“This is exactly the sort of investment that makes a real difference to everyday journeys by helping people get around more easily, improving safety, encouraging more sustainable travel, and making sure our communities are better connected.
“Over the last decade, the Council has made very significant investment in highways and infrastructure across the County Borough, because we know how important this is to residents, businesses and local communities. Support from Welsh Government is hugely important because it complements that ongoing Council investment and helps us deliver even more improvements on the ground.”
Posted on 24/03/2026