In September 2018, Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council were one of twelve city regions shortlisted to bid for a share of the Department for Transport’s £1.28 billion Transforming Cities Fund. This fund is for public transport improvements across South East Hampshire.
Working in partnership with Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight Council, the Portsmouth city region bid was successfully awarded £55.6m from the Transforming Cities Fund in September 2020. This follows an initial grant of £4m.
Building on the success of the Star and Eclipse, the Hard Interchange and Portsmouth Park & Ride, the Transforming Cities Fund will enable the next phase of the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit network.