Transport boost is revealed for region
Nine detailed documents setting out the transport priorities that the West Midlands region needs to achieve over the coming year have been published.
Nine detailed documents setting out the transport priorities that the West Midlands region needs to achieve over the coming year have been published.
The expansion of the Midland Metro to create a new line from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill has been named in the "strategic transport spine". The spine also includes improvements to the Burnt Tree Island on the Birmingham New Road, the A41 Black Country New Road and replacing the Vine Island at Fordhouses on the A449 with a set of traffic lights.
Contents of the updated Regional Transport Priorities Action Plan were announced by regional minister Ian Austin MP.
Mr Austin said that delivering these priorities would play a vital role in strengthening the West Midlands economy, creating jobs and providing homes.
Top of the list, published by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, is the £600 million redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station, a new runway for Birmingham International Airport and opening up the hard shoulder on the M5 and M6 during peak times.
Work is planned to begin on hard shoulder running on the M6.
A chunk of a £6 billion package of major improvements to the national road network will be spent in the West Midlands.
The Midland Metro extension will cover nearly seven miles and cost £288 million.
So far bosses at transport authority Centro only have £36 million from Merry Hill Centre owner Westfield.
They also want £30 million from the Government to fund a loop around Wolverhampton city centre as an extension to the existing line between the city and Birmingham Snow Hill.
The nine priorities are:
* Birmingham New Street Station Gateway Project
* Birmingham International Airport – runway extension and surface access
* M6-M5 capacity improvements and Motorway Box Hard Shoulder Running (HSR)
* Rail freight upgrades – Peterborough and Southampton to Nuneaton
* Regional rail capacity, for passengers and freight
* Black Country 'Strategic Transport Spine'
* North Staffordshire Integrated Transport Package
* New growth points/settlements of significant development
* Smarter choices – encouraging the use of public transport in Worcester
