The ‘Vision for Movement’ study, a transportation framework that sits alongside
The study aims to lay the foundations for a comprehensive network of rapid transit, bus, rail, cycling and walking routes to underpin
It forms the next stage of a 20-year regeneration masterplan for
The plans have been drawn up by the city’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Birmingham City Council, transport authority Centro and National Express West Midlands and build on major transport schemes already underway including the redevelopment of New Street Station and the extension of the Midland Metro tram system.
Speaking at the launch event at the International Convention Centre, Gary Taylor, chairman of the Broad Street BID, said: “Joining forces with the city council and Centro to produce a shared plan with a clear set of projects and goals was a natural next step for the three city centre BIDS – Broad Street, Retail and Colmore.
“Funding major transport projects is going to be a challenge but Vision for Movement defines a series of achievable projects that, collectively, will transform how people can move around a growing city centre.”
A key feature of the study is an integrated, rapid transit network through the city centre and out along four major routes to
It also proposes to increase the rail network capacity and park and ride routes, provide more cycle lanes and simplify public transport through improved interchange facilities and ticketing systems.
Although the Metro tram system remains at the heart of the long-term strategy to support economic regeneration in the city centre, in the shorter term a network of flexible rapid transit routes, known as the Birmingham Sprint, will be developed.
Birmingham Sprint will be a tram-style service benefiting from highway priority measures to speed up journeys which will compliment the existing bus network.
Two Birmingham Sprint priorities will be a cross city route from
The Vision’s proposals also include:
Alterations to the rail network at Camp Hill to open new passenger stations on the rail lines out to Kings Norton and
- The transformation of existing bus services with green vehicles,
- Improving the efficiency of the existing road network by remodelling key junctions, making it easier to use the Ring Road and installing traffic management systems giving priority to public transport, cycling and walking.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
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