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Current Developments in the West Midlands

- An Overview

Geoff InskipChief Executive

Centro

The West Midlands Metropolitan Area• 2.6 m population• Distinct sub-regions: - Birmingham/Solihull, - The Black Country, - Coventry• Industrial legacy “The workshop of the world”• “Cross-roads of the UK”

Challenges• Skills

– £15bn Regional GVA productivity gap with UK average• Jobs

– global economy jobs, fit for the future. Region’s unemployment rate currently 9%– Connectivity to jobs and to skills

• Homes– Circa 160,000 net new homes in the Metropolitan area by 2026

• Carbon– 80% reduction in UK greenhouse gas by 2050; 34% reduction by 2020

Public transport in the West Midlands• 347 m passenger journeys 2010/11 • 50+% public transport modal share to centres• 90% bus services commercial• 10% bus services subsidised – contracts with Centro• National Express operates 77% of bus service kms• Suburban rail services – renewal in 2015• Light rail – 23 year concession with Centro• Network Rail – rail infrastructure• Highways Agency – motorways• Local councils – highway authorities and land use planning authorities

Strong links with land use planning

World Class Transport Package

• Effective governance• Strong links with land use

planning• Clear plans, sustained

commitment• Clear roles for public, private

and voluntary sectors• Integrated hierarchical public

transport

Connectivity to Jobs (1) Existing

Connectivity to Jobs (2)- Existing Vision agglomeration benefits

Transport StrategyPromote low carbon, economic

growth:• “Smart routes” – Strategic Highway

Network/Principal Bus Corridors• Increased public transport capacity –

Hierarchical public transport system• Enhanced local walking, cycling• Smarter Choices

Strategic Public Transport Issues :• HS2 release of “classic network” capacity• Increasing suburban rail capacity/• Rapid transit network development/land use planning• Bus network quality/ effectiveness• Park and ride capacity• Integrated Smart ticketing - Swift

•

Smart Routes Strategic Network

Rail and Rapid Transit Network

Principal Bus Corridors

Local Bus Networks

Centro’s Transport Package

• HS2 Connectivity• Promoting Economic Growth through

Rail Connectivity• Strategic Freight Network• Access to Growth

Concluding RemarksA clear transport strategy with focus on its deliverySupport low carbon economic development and regeneration

of the West Midlands

• Geoff Inskip• Chief Executive, Centro