28.04.17
New WMCA £3.4bn ‘transport blueprint’ includes new lines and stations
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has today opened a consultation to gauge the views of the public on plans to transform transport set out in its draft 2026 Draft Delivery Plan worth £3.4bn.
New suburban rail lines and tram extensions are being targeted by the authority amongst a number of other transport improvements in the region. For example, schemes include extending the Midland Metro in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, as well as new rail infrastructure to open up new passenger lines, such as through the Camp Hill Chords project and a heavy rail connection to Wolverhampton and Walsall.
The plan also moots the possibility of redeveloping Coventry station and building new stations at Willenhall and James Bridge.
The strategy sets out a timetable for the construction of schemes which the WMCA believes can unlock economic growth and capitalise on the delivery of HS2, which will run through the area.
On top of the £3.4bn cash injection, other initiatives are being tabled by the authority, which is also seeking extra funding to develop these schemes over the period up to 2026.
Today, residents, the business community and other major sectors have been asked for their opinions on the Draft Delivery Plan through a new public consultation, which will run for a six-week period.
Laura Shoaf, managing director of the WMCA’s transport wing, said: “This plan aims to prioritise the building of those schemes that can best underpin and support the WMCA’s wider goals for economic growth, housing and skills.
“It’s about which schemes should be built and when, so that we secure the biggest bang for our buck and have the right transport infrastructure in place to maximize the already significant economic benefits of HS2.”
The TfWM director added that the blueprint has a key role to play in the future prosperity of the West Midlands region.
“The draft 2026 Delivery Plan is the initial 10-year programme for the WMCA’s longer-term strategic transport plan ‘Movement for Growth’ which sets out a 20-year vision and overall strategic approach to improving the regional network”, Shoaf concluded.
Today’s news comes just a month after TfWM announced it will be taking over the running of Midlands Metro from National Express in October 2018 to enable the authority to invest future profits into expanding the network.
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