Centro given £33m to help tackle congestion and boost economy

WEST Midlands transport authority Centro has been handed a £33m fighting fund to help tackle congestion, reduce carbon emissions and kick start the regional economy.

The money has been awarded to Centro from the Government’s local sustainable transport fund (LSTF) which is making £560m available for green travel projects around England.

The pot will be further boosted by at least another £15m from local public and private sector contributions.

Centro, working in partnership with the seven West Midlands councils, will now use the money to fund its proposed smart network, smarter choices project.

The project involves carrying out a wide range of sustainable travel schemes along up to ten key corridors in the West Midlands to help underpin economic growth, job creation and meet tough carbon reduction targets.

Work will be aimed at improving public transport services, walking and cycling routes and the general flow of traffic. Schemes aimed at influencing people’s travel behaviour, especially in favour of green choices for short trips, will also be carried out.

Centro chairman John McNicholas said: “Our congested roads are costing the West Midlands economy more than £2.3bn a year and that is stifling the growth and job creation we so badly need.

“We believe we can help free up our roads by offering sustainable transport options that can better connect people to jobs, skills and training and help bolster the economy.

“That’s why the announcement of £33.2m is such excellent news as it gives us some of the resources we need to tackle many of the transport issues we face here in the West Midlands.”

The other Midlands beneficiaries of the Government transport-linked funding were Stoke/Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin. Stoke City Council and Staffordshire County Council will share £5m and Telford & Wrekin Council has been awarded £6.1m.
 

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