A raft of new public transport projects have been announced by the Scottish Executive.

Transport Minister Iain Gray unveiled the 23 projects which have been chosen to share a total of �59m in funding.

The awards were made under the fifth and final round of grants from the Scottish Executive's public transport fund on Thursday.

Schemes benefiting from the cash include better bus links for Edinburgh's new Royal Infirmary and the city's business park.

Bus services in Dundee are also set to benefit by almost �7m.

The additional cash will be used to improve the network across the city.

Major public transport schemes include:

• �10.5m for Edinburgh City Council to improve links to South Gyle/Edinburgh Park and the New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Fort Kinnaird

• �6.8m for Dundee City Council to improve the citywide bus network

• �2.7m for Glasgow City Council to expand Park and Ride facilities at Shields Road Underground station car park

• �1.5m for Highland Council to tackle local congestion by improved pedestrian access to Inverness city centre and better local rail services

Mr Gray said the schemes aim to improve the quality of public transport, to tackle congestion and to increase access to jobs and leisure.

He said: "From bus links in Edinburgh that will link many more people with potential employment to ambitious plans in Inverness to pedestrianise part of the city centre, all the awards today will make a real contribution to improving the local environment."