West Midlands Combined Authority gives green light to four key transport projects
The search is on in the West Midlands to find sites for ten electric vehicle transit stations to provide ultra-rapid charging for cars and larger vehicles as part of the region’s green transport revolution.
The ten stations, each likely to include 80 to 100 ultra-rapid chargers, will be located at strategic points along the West Midlands Combined Authority’s major road network with a view to putting 90% of the region within easy reach of a top-up.
The EV transit station network is one of the first four major transport projects to be delivered as part of the £1.3 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) backed investment.
The four schemes have been green lit by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board and will go ahead pending final approval from Government.
The investments prioritise projects to promote the decarbonisation of transport, target investment into areas of poor connectivity and support inclusive growth. The first four projects are:
£24 million to seek sites for, plan and deliver a network of 10 EV transit stations across the West Midlands
£43 million to extend the West Midlands Metro depot at Wednesbury to service the region’s growing tram fleet and network – including the extension to Dudley in 2024.
£17 million to replace and upgrade the Metro power supply on the existing Wolverhampton to Birmingham line for the first time since it opened 22 years ago.
£56 million to deliver phase two of the Sprint bus priority corridor with more bus lanes and junction upgrades along the full route between Solihull and Walsall. Phase one along the A34 and A45 in Birmingham is nearing completion.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, has been awarded £1.05 billion CRSTS funding which, topped up with local funds, will deliver £1.3 billion investment across 50 large and small transport projects over the next five years.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA Board, said, “These projects are just the start of our £1.3 billion investment to de-carbonise and revolutionise our transport network across the West Midlands.
Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio lead for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We have set out the priorities for investment in transport across our seven local authorities and these are the first of many projects coming forward over the next few months.
“Together we're working to address the major challenges of traffic congestion and poor air quality and this investment is designed to make alternatives to petrol and diesel vehicles more convenient and affordable, making it easier for people to make that switch and support our net-zero ambitions.”