Business and political leaders commission ten-year transport masterplan

BUSINESS and political leaders across the West Midlands have agreed to commission a 10-year transport plan to help unlock the region’s full economic potential.
 
The leaders of the seven West Midlands metropolitan authorities and the region’s three Local Enterprise Partnerships are already working together on initiatives to increase economic output, jobs and housing.
 
But with the HS2 high speed rail line firmly on the horizon they believe improvements to transport connections, not just within the West Midlands but right across central England, will be essential to make the most of the region’s location at the heart of the HS2 network.
 
The seven leaders, who together with representatives from the three LEPs make up the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA), agreed at a meeting in Birmingham to draw up a 10-year strategic transport plan to help meet the level of economic growth required.
 
Cllr Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council and chairman of the ITA, said: “We believe we can unlock far greater economic potential for the Midlands by taking advantage of the better transport connections that HS2 will bring.

“It’s therefore vital we have a clear, ambitious but achievable plan for transport if we are going to reach that full potential. That’s why we have agreed to commission a 10-year strategic plan that can help grow the economy and create the new jobs and extra housing we need.”
 
The Strategic Transport Plan for the West Midlands will incorporate proposals outlined in Birmingham Connected, the 20-year transport vision unveiled by Birmingham City Council earlier this month. The vision has a network of rapid transit buses and trams at its heart.
 
The ITA has also identified the Midlands Connect project as a top priority. This involves the West and East Midlands working together to press for more strategic transport investment in the region’s road, rail and freight networks.
 
Midlands Connect also sets out to ensure the right links into HS2 are provided so that the Midlands as a whole to maximise the significant economic benefits offered by the high speed line.
 
Cllr Lawrence added: “There is a real opportunity to turn the Midlands into an economic powerhouse but to help make that happen we need to be better connected between the East and West Midlands and within our individual towns and cities.
 
“But because our transport network is at the heart of the national network we also need efficient and healthy arteries going north and south. This way we can not only help grow the Midlands economy but also that of our neighbours in the North.”