Local leaders in the West Midlands will this Friday consider plans to invest £43m in projects designed to tackle the region’s congestion problems.
Grants of between £237,000 and £10m will be put before the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board for approval and will go towards supporting a range of road, rail, tram, bus and cycling projects.
The money, which is from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, will fund a £6m project to provide cycle routes across the region.
Around £5m will also create walkable links between bus, tram and rail services in Birmingham’s city centre.
Further projects will see funds invested in highway improvements, cleaner buses and the planned Regional Transport Coordination Centre, which will monitor and act on congestion.
‘This investment in sustainable transport will benefit commuters, improve air quality and support the wider economic growth of the West Midlands,’ said Cllr Roger Lawrence, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street added: ‘We know that may of our residents face daily frustrations as they travel and commute throughout the West Midlands and improving our transport network is a priority.
‘So we have agreed, with our transport and local authority partners, to help fund ten projects from across the whole region, which will make a real difference to residents whether they travel by car, bus, rail or cycle.’
