Calls to scrap Sprint bus ‘vanity project’ as phase two plans to begin
Calls have been made to scrap a controversial bus scheme on a busy route into a town centre which has been labelled a "vanity project"
Walsall South MP, Valerie Vaz, said the Sprint Bus scheme was not needed along Birmingham Road in Walsall and has called on ministers to halt phase two of the project.
She added that a resident had told her Sprint would only save just one minute of the journey along Birmingham Road, which is already served by the 51 and x51 buses.
However, Transport for West Midlands bosses said the first phase has delivered significant cuts to journey times in Birmingham, as well as increased customer satisfaction since Sprint was introduced.
The scheme aims to be a bus priority corridor called Sprint to link Walsall to Solihull and Birmingham Airport in one continuous route.
Bosses added all views will be considered as part of the consultation for Phase Two of the scheme. This work will begin in 2024.
The first phase of Sprint, which will run along the A34 from Birmingham, through Great Barr and onto Walsall and include routes to Solihull and the airport, was finished last Summer. Phase two is currently being developed.
