£43m fund to combat congestion in Midlands Plans for road, rail and cycle paths ‘could make a difference’
CONGESTION across the region is to be tackled by the West Midlands Combined Authority after £43 million of funding was agreed.
New measures include a £6 million commitment for cycling schemes, £10 million towards a Dudley interchange and £3 million to help transform the University of Birmingham station.
The money is part of the £250 million ‘Transforming Cities Fund’ granted by the government to the West Midlands last year.
Mayor Andy Street says the projects will help to make a ‘real difference’ to people’s journies across the West Midlands.
Proposals on how to spend the remaining £43 million of the original £250 million grant were approved by all constituent authorities at a West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board meeting.
Some £207 million of the fund had already been allocated to help pay for the Wednesbury Brierley Hill Metro Extension, with the fund intended to transform ‘intra-city’ links.
The full list of schemes funding was agreed includes:
Cycling programme: £6 million for cycle routes across the region;
Birchley Island: Sandwell Council will be awarded £7.4 million towards work to increase capacity and cut congestion at the busy roundabout near to the M5 junction 2;
Dudley Interchange: a £10 million grant will help fund a new £18 million bus and metro station;
B4106 Spon End: Coventry City Council will receive £5.8 million to support work to ease congestion on this key commuter route;
University Rail Station: towards redevelopment ;
Birmingham City Centre: £5 million towards improvements to New Street, High Street and Victoria Square to create walkable links between bus, tram and rail services and replace the security barriers; Real time information: £2 million; Highways investment programme: £2 million;
Regional Transport Coordination Centre: £1.5 million toward establishing a single centre for coordinating the region’s road network;
Low emission bus scheme in Coventry: £237,000. for £3 which million
Five of the projects will be delivered by Transport for West Midlands, part of the WMCA, with the remaining five being implemented by local councils.
Mayor Andy Street said: “We know that many of our residents face daily frustrations as they travel and commute throughout the West Midlands and improving our transport network is a priority.
“So we have agreed, with our transport and local authority partners, to help fund ten projects from across the whole region, which will make a real difference to residents whether they travel by car, bus, rail or cycle.”
Several other schemes were considered for funding by the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), including: Solihull Station; Wifi at bus stations; Bus emissions programme; Coventry Ring Road Junction; Park and ride – this did not meet all the objectives set out in the assessment framework; Bus travel infrastructure’ However, these were judged meet all the objectives set out assessment framework. not to in the