A £2.7 billion boost for transport in the West Midlands confirmed
Posted on 16th October 2023 at 10:09
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has welcomed a £2.7 billion investment into the region’s transport infrastructure to fund a wide range of improvements including delivery of the transformative Midlands Rail Hub project.
The huge investment, which will be delivered over the next decade, has been confirmed by the Department for Transport following the cancellation last week of phase 2 of HS2.
TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will received an immediate £100 million investment for existing metro extensions, including completion of the second phase of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension in full, and to press on with major development work at Arden Cross, next to the HS2 Interchange Station.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “The near £3billion worth of transport investment we have secured for the West Midlands is really significant, and will help to turbo-charge our plans to improve public transport in the region and better connect our communities.
“From ensuring the Black Country metro extension goes all the way to Brierley Hill, to more capital sums to invest in safe walking and cycling routes, the Government have made a sizeable investment in the West Midlands.
“And of course this is all on top of Midlands Rail Hub, our complex plan to increase the speed, reliability, and frequency of local rail services – not least to the East Midlands. This is something we have spent more than four years designing and lobbying for, and so I’m delighted to have got this over the line.'
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has welcomed a £2.7 billion investment into the region’s transport infrastructure to fund a wide range of improvements
Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio lead for transport and leader of Walsall Council, said: “We have as a region developed a pipeline of projects to improve our rail, road, bus and cycling networks and develop new ways to make travel easier – including new railway stations, further expansion of the Metro system and more zero-emission rapid bus services – and we can now bring many of those forward following the new funding announced.”
Tagged as: Transport for West Midlands, WMCA
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