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	Light Rail News: Index 2001 > MIDLAND METRO - Next Four Corridors Recommended; 27 July 2001

MIDLAND METRO - Next Four Corridors Recommended

Centro is to recommend four new Midland Metro corridors for development approval by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA) at their meeting on Monday 23rd July.

The proposed corridors were selected after consultation arising from the recently published High Volume Corridors Study, which identified a number of potential routes for a full Metro network in the West Midlands.

Corridors recommended for the next phase of development are:

• Birmingham Eastside via Hagley Road to Quinton or Halesowen, with possible spurs to Bartley Green or Oldbury (incorporating the Snow Hill to Edgbaston extension)
• Birmingham Coventry Road to Birmingham Airport and NEC
• Great Barr or Kingstanding to Bournbrook or Selly Oak
• Wolverhampton to Walsall via Wednesfield

These four corridors, which are expected to cost in the region of GBP500 million to build, will be lodged in the 2001 West Midlands Local Transport Plan submission to Government at the end of this month. Subject to approval by WMPTA, Centro will work with local authority partners to develop a Metro route and termini locations in each of these four corridors. Local communities and businesses will be involved in this process through consultation.

Definitive routes will then be bought to WMPTA for approval. All being well a business case for each route will then be taken to Government for support and an outline funding package will be discussed. The next stage will be to seek Transport and Works Act powers and then contracts to build the Metro routes.

This process will take a number of years to progress and the very earliest these routes will be open is likely to be 2008. Further routes included in the High Volume Corridors Study could, following further evaluation, be open from 2012. Development works will continue of these routes in the meantime. A full system of Midland Metro lines is part of Centro/WMPTA’s vision of a ‘Network West Midlands’ offering a fully integrated world class transport system with ‘turn up and go’ frequencies.

Rob Donald, Centro Director General, said: "There is huge support from the local authorities, the public and business community to get on with building a Midland Metro network. These proposals are a major step towards achieving that objective and implementing an important part of the Government’s 10 Year Transport Plan in the West Midlands."

Cllr Roger Horton, WMPTA lead member for Midland Metro, said: "Metro will be a boost for the area in terms of regeneration, jobs, tourism and social inclusion. People like the Metro, have accepted it and want it. This is more than a shot in the arm for the West Midlands, it is a shot for the whole body.

"I am pleased with the progress made so far with the four routes, which have had unanimous support from the public, district councils and businesses alike."

From CENTRO press release dated 18th July 2001

19th July 2001

MIDLAND METRO - Proposals endorsed

The decision of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA) on working on further Midland Metro routes has been endorsed by the West Midlands Joint Committee, which comprises the leadership of all seven local authorities in the West Midlands.

As a result of this, Centro and its local authority partners will develop Metro routes in two corridors across Birmingham City Centre and a further corridor in the Black Country.

The corridors are ( in slightly more detail):

• Birmingham Airport and NEC via Coventry Road,
• Birmingham City Centre and Hagley Road to Quinton or Halesowen, with possible spurs to Birmingham Eastside, Bartley Green or Oldbury
• Great Barr or Kingstanding to Bournbrook or Selly Oak
• Wolverhampton to Wednesfield and Walsall linking to Wednesbury

Cllr Richard Worrall, Chair of WMPTA, said: "The District Leaders appear to be happy with the PTA’s proposals for Birmingham and the Black Country, which will provide cross-city light rail links for Birmingham and Wolverhampton and a cross-town link through the heart of Walsall to connect it into the growing Metro network. Everyone now needs to work together to plan the routes in detail and ensure a successful lobby of the Government to enable these exciting plans to be realised."

From CENTRO press release dated 25th July 2001

27th July 2001

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