West Midlands secures funding for green transport
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has secured over £1bn worth of funding to accelerate green transport.
In a bid document submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) last month, the combined authority set out priorities for the investment.
These include:
- Supporting the early planning and development work on four new Metro extensions in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton
- Building new rail stations and bus interchanges at Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Aldridge and;
- Supporting the rollout of the Very Light Rail network in Coventry.
1,000 EV charge points, as well as ultra-fast charging facilities for electric heavy goods vehicles, vans and buses will also be installed across the region.
A series of new safe cycling routes will also be developed to encourage people to be more active on their commute.
This funding will be provided over the next five years, starting in April 2022.
Over the next few weeks, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) will work with the DfT, local councils and transport industry partners to develop a detailed plan for investment.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: ‘I am absolutely delighted that our ambition has paid off and we’ve secured more than £1billion of Government investment to continue our transport revolution here in the West Midlands.
‘It is the largest single transport sum we have ever received, and I know the team cannot wait to press on and start getting diggers in the ground on some truly game-changing schemes.
‘From more Metro lines and train stations, to new bus routes and EV charging points, this cash will help us to continue to build a clean, green transport network that connects communities and tackles the climate emergency.’
The WMCA and partners are meanwhile seeking additional funding opportunities through other government sources such as the Levelling Up Fund and the Bus Service Improvement Plan to support projects which cannot go forward through CRSTS.
Photo by Tom W
