A £28 million boost has been promised for York's transport system.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott today announced the cash as part of an £8.4 billion national package.

A further £100 million will be used for projects in North Yorkshire.

The York cash was officially confirmed by city MP Hugh Bayley in York this afternoon.

It is expected to be spent in York to:

* Build three new park and ride sites

* Introduce new train stations, expected to provide the long-awaited link between Haxby and Strensall and the city centre

* Review the city network of cycle routes

* Develop a Connexions bus service linking rural villages with the city

* Enhance a partnership between City of York Council and bus operator First York which works to link park and ride with other bus services

* Introduce more than 130 bus shelters

* Improve arrangements for taxis, including greater integration with other public transport by through ticketing.

The schemes are included in City of York Council's Local Transport Plan, the framework outlining the way councillors see the city developing which was submitted to the Government earlier this year.

The York figure represents an increase of more than £20 million compared with the previous five years' funding.

Coun Dave Merrett, City of York Council's executive member for planning and transport, today thanked the thousands of city residents who took part in consultation on the transport plan.

He said: "I have no doubt that today's good news is substantially as a result of the community efforts and will to move forward which we were able to demonstrate in our submission."

"We seem to have got virtually everything that we asked for, which was more than we were originally going to bid for."

Mr Bayley said: "Within five years, York will see two new park and ride services from Monks Cross and on the Harrogate to York corridor.

"This will make a total of six, carrying almost two million passengers a year by 2006, which will be good news for city centre businesses and local jobs."

Coun Merrett said: "As a priority, the pedestrian route from the station to the city centre will be improved."

The news comes only days after City of York Council opened its newest park and ride site at Fulford's McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, the fourth in the city.

Neither the North Yorkshire or York money will be spent on trunk roads, including A roads and motorways, which are the responsibility of the Highways Agency, which has separate funding.

County council planning chiefs expect to use their share of the money to:

* Improve public transport infrastructure

* Develop cycle and pedestrian routes

* Slow down traffic growth

* Reduce deaths and serious injuries on the county's roads

* Reduce the environmental impact of lorries.

adam.nichols@ycp.co.uk