Major route to get priority bus lanes into city
BUSES are to get priority along major route into Birmingham.
Work on the new measures along Alcester and Moseley Road in the south of the city could start early next year, ahead of the new Clean Air Zone.
Plans include a new bus-only route along Highgate Middleway and part-time bus lanes in both directions between the Middleway and Moseley.
Under the proposals, bus lanes would be created by widening the road to four lanes in Balsall Heath and restricting on-street parking.
The proposed bus route on Highgate Middleway would be created using the existing central reservation.
It is hoped the measures will help
a buses – including the number 50 from Birmingham to Druids Heath via Moseley and Kings Heath – to beat the traffic.
The A435 Alcester Road is the busiest bus route in the West Midlands, with nearly seven million passengers using the route every year.
Improvements to pavements and walkways are also proposed in Balsall Heath. The plans are part of a 10-year, £20 million strategy to improve journey times for bus passengers and reduce congestion in the West Midlands.
The scheme is being proposed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
There are also plans to reopen the Camp Hill rail line in south Birmingham to passengers for the first time in 80 years.
Last week, the West Midlands received £24 miillion Government funding for further measures to improve bus journey times and reliability in Birmingham and Dudley.
Laura Shoaf, managing director, Transport for West Midlands, added: “Good bus services which run ontime are essential to help more people move around the West Midlands. However, we know congestion can often prevent this from happening, especially during the rush hour.
“This is why we will deliver 24 schemes between 2018 and 2021 which make journeys by bus a priority across the region and speed up journey times for our passengers.
“Alcester Road is one of the most congested roads in and out of the city, particularly through Balsall Heath, so we know it’s an important route for lots of people – we have ideas of how we can improve things for our passengers but we want to hear their views.”