Deadline looms for public to have its say on future of transport in the West Midlands
The people of the West Midlands have just a few days left to give their views on a transport blueprint for the next decade.
The plans cover £3.4 billion of tram extensions, new suburban rail lines, cycle routes and motorway improvements built over the coming years.
The 2026 Draft Delivery Plan sets out a timetable for the construction of schemes the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) believes can best unlock economic growth and make the most of the arrival of the HS2 high speed rail line.
Schemes include Midland Metro tram extensions in the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull, railway works to open up new passenger lines and improve local services, improvements to key motorway and road junctions and more cycle routes.
In addition to the £3.4 billion package set out in the plan, a number of further transport schemes are included and funding for these additional schemes will be sought over the coming years.
A six week consultation on the plan developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) - the transport arm of the combined authority – comes to an end on Friday June 9.
Members of the public, businesses and other sectors of the community are all invited to have their say.
Their responses will be considered when work begins on putting together the final version of the plan later this year.
Laura Shoaf, managing director of Transport for West Midlands, said: “We want to hear people’s views on these proposed transport schemes that we feel will support the WMCA’s wider goals for economic growth, housing and skills.
“This blueprint has a key role to play in the future prosperity of our region, which is why I would encourage people to take this opportunity to have their say.”
The 2026 Draft Delivery Plan is the initial 10-year programme for the combined authority’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.
For more information or to make comments on the draft plan go to the Transport for West Midlands website:www.tfwm.org.uk/events/draft-2026-delivery-plan-for-transport/
