Smarter traffic management and HS2 needed to free congestion

SMARTER traffic management systems, more use of hard-shoulders and the swift development of HS2 are key to reducing congestion on the roads in the West Midlands, business leaders have said.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) made its comments following the publication of the Transport Selection Committee Out of the jam: reducing congestion on our roads report.

The report argues that improving the way roads are managed should form a key aspect of central government transport policy.  

The chamber said transport congestion costs the economy of the West Midlands over £2bn a year and severely damages the region’s competitiveness.  

The BCCG said smarter traffic management systems and more hard-shoulder use would be a cost-effective way of decreasing congestion within the region.

Currently the West Midlands metropolitan area has traffic levels which are around double the national average – much higher than London and Greater Manchester.  

Ross Gurdin, BCCG policy adviser, said: “Traffic levels within the West Midlands are incredibly high and we need cost-effective solutions to address this problem.  

“About two-thirds of journeys within the West Midlands metropolitan area are by car and traffic levels are believed to have increased by 242 million trips since 2001.  

“However the chamber believes a more holistic approach is needed to ease traffic congestion.”

He said an integrated public transport system was vital to the success of any big city and the chamber believed good progress was being made towards encouraging people out of their cars.  
    
“The chamber also believes projects such as HS2 will help increase capacity on the roads by encouraging motorists out of their cars and by freeing up capacity on existing railways for more freight,” he said.

“Currently 60% of journeys by chamber members to Leeds and Manchester are by car and much quicker than other means.”