New cross-city bus routes to be developed with £70m funding
Four new cross-city bus routes are set to be developed following the award of £70m funding.
The routes will link communities across Birmingham city centre and pave the way for genuine cross-city services, saving passengers time changing buses.
New bus lanes, amendments to junctions, traffic signals, parking and bus stops will allow buses to bypass traffic jams and provide more reliable, regular and predictable journey times, with enhanced shelters and information ensuring an improved travelling experience for passengers.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), will make improvements on routes covering:
Longbridge and Hamstead via A441 (Pershore Road) and B4124
Longbridge and Castle Vale via the A38 (Bristol Rd & Tyburn Rd)
West Bromwich and Chelmsley Wood via A41 Soho Road and B4128 (Bordesley Green & The Meadway)
Bartley Green and Chelmsley Wood via B4124 (Harborne Road) and B4114 (Washwood Heath Road)
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) said: “These cross-city bus routes will better connect local people right across our region – cutting journey times for passengers, improving the public transport customer experience and demonstrating what the future of urban mobility can look like.
“Thanks to the £70m funding award we recently secured, we can further enhance services here in the West Midlands – with a particular focus on reliability so that we can make daily commutes faster and more dependable.
“Whether residents are on the move for work or play, we’re making the bus a more attractive option for all in the months and years ahead.”
TfWM, which is part of the WMCA, is working with Birmingham city council and other council partners on the plans which are to be developed and delivered over the next three years.
The £70m funding has been set aside the £1.05bn City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) awarded by the Department for Transport to the WMCA last year. The routes are also part of the region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
