04.07.19
Plans for Cardiff’s £1bn transport network unveiled
Cardiff City Council’s ambitious plans for a £1bn travel network in the city have been revealed today.
The network proposes a new ‘Cardiff Cross Rail’, a new light rail and tram system running from east to west of the city.
Speaking at a Welsh Government Conference on Active Travel, council leader Cllr Huw Thomas called for major changes to the city’s transport infrastructure.
He told delegates: “Cardiff's transport network needs to change. It was originally designed for a city with a population of 200,000, but today our population is closer to 400,000.
"It's clear to everyone that this situation is unsustainable. We have a network which is already creaking.
"We won't deliver this overnight, but we are today bringing forward the council's aspiration while fully recognising that we will have to work effectively with Welsh Government and other partners.”
The proposals aim to significantly reduce CO2 and NO2 emissions in the city, partly with a new ‘Rapid Bus Transport Network’ that runs on only green and electric vehicles.
Similar to proposals by Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, the document outlines the idea of an integrated ticketing system to make travelling in the city smoother for passengers.
Cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, Cllr Caro Wild, said: "Get transport right and it's a game changer. It adds real impetus to a city's economic development agenda.
“It helps tackle inequality by better connecting people with opportunity. It improves quality of life and provides a visible pointer to the city's environmental credentials.
"Get it wrong and it signals the inevitable erosion of your economic competitiveness and a slow decay in quality of life.
“We now look forward to continuing to work with Welsh Government and other partners to make this game-changing investment in the city region's transport network a reality.”