Major Transport Studies

Over the past five years, there have been a number of local transport studies. In addition, two sub-regional studies focusing on transport needs are underway;  the Black Country Study and Coventry / Solihull / Warwickshire Study.  Previous studies include:

  1. West Midlands Area Multi-Modal Study

  2. Coventry Area Network Study (CANS)

  3. West Midlands to North West Conurbations Multi-Modal Study

  4. West Midlands to East Midlands Multi-Modal Study

  5. London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study

These are described below:

(a) West Midlands Area Multi-Modal Study (WMAMMS)

This study primarily focused on the conurbation within our Area.  It proposed a strategy to address social and economic problems, and to deliver an effective and efficient transport system which meets the economic and environmental objectives established through the Regional Planning Guidance process.  The study identified the following problems:

  • inadequate facilities for cycling and walking
  • unreliable, expensive and often over crowded public transport
  • lack of a high standard urban public transport system
  • lack of good public transport travel information
  • lack of capacity at Birmingham New Street station and on the West Coast Main Line
  • congestion and safety problems arising from car dependency
  • severe congestion on the motorway system
  • inefficient use of existing road space
  • high costs of freight transport due to road congestion
  • poor transport network in the west of the conurbation
  • congestion and access problems in growth areas such as the Birmingham International Airport / NEC complex

This assessment will be well recognised by people who live or work in the area and is supported by other studies such as the 2001 Transport Surveys.  Many of the problems have been around a long time.  It is estimated that delays due to congestion cost  the West Midlands £2.3 billion every year.

WMAMMS considered transport needs for the next thirty years.  Road transport, rail, light rail, bus, walking and cycling all have a role in satisfying future demand.  Current transport problems are severe and the study recognised that it will not be possible to solve them simply by building new roads and railways.

So the study concluded that significant changes in travel behaviour would also be required.  People would need attractive alternatives so they can choose when and how they use their cars.  An improved 'street scene', better public transport, workplace travel plans, safer routes to schools and work, car sharing and teleworking would all need to contribute.

 

WMAMMS also recommended improvements to transport infrastructure including:

  • improved facilities for walking and cycling
  • a Red Route network to increase capacity of the existing highway and improve journey reliability, especially buses
  • improved Urban Traffic Control systems
  • bus improvements, including Super-Showcase Routes with extensive bus priority
  • a network of Metro lines
  • major rail improvements including four-tracking between Coventry and Wolverhampton and new tunnels under Birmingham New Street station
  • a Regional Express Rail (RER) network providing high quality, frequent services
  • bypasses of Stourbridge and Wolverhampton, with new links and improved roads within the Black Country
  • widening the M42 between junctions 3 and 7
  • a host of more detailed schemes including strategic Park & Ride

If the complete package of proposals was  implemented, it was estimated that by 2031:

  • overall hours lost to congestion would reduce to below 1999 levels
  • average delays per vehicle due to congestion would reduce by 20% relative to 1999 levels
  • the share of travel by car in peak periods would reduce from 76% to 60%
  • the peak period share ot travel by train would increase from 2% to 8%
  • the reliability of journey times would increase significantly
  • all Regeneration Zones within the West Midlands would have improved accessibility

These outcomes would all help to achieve our broader policy objectives of reducing congestion, helping economic regeneration and urban renaissance and improving environmental conditions and accessibility to jobs.

If the proposals are less than fully implemented, the benefits would be fewer.  Transport problems would get worse, with increased emissions of greenhouse gases and more road accidents.  Regeneration and economic development, both largely dependent on good transport links, would also be severely compromised.

The cost of the recommended infrastructure over thirty years was estimated at  £7.6 billion above current proposals.  Some 60% related to public transport expenditure, with by far the largest part being on rail schemes.  The study viewed this level of funding as being realistic and affordable, based on an extrapolated Government 10-year Plan assumption.

The thrust of the recommendations for the first ten years was not significantly different from our 2000 LTP strategy, apart from greater emphasis on influencing travel behaviour. There has been insufficient capital funding for transport which has damaged the economic and environmental health of the region.  The foreword to the 2000 LTP said:

'The programme will not deliver the world class transport system needed by the conurbation and, critically, does not provide sufficient investment in the first five years.'

The WMAMMS recommendations considered the funding required from the Highways Agency, Strategic Rail Authority and private sources.  Some £3 billion needed to come from local authority funding, £0.7 billion from the Highways Agency and £4 billion from the rail industry.  Delivery of the full package would require close co-operation between all key stakeholders.

The local authority element of the package would cost some £400 million annually, including  the recommended Midland Metro network. 

(b) Coventry Area Network Study (CANS)

This study looked at the potential contribution of public transport to solving the transport problems of Coventry.  It was considered that many of the generic issues raised by WMAMMS were relevant to Coventry, but it was necessary to look closer at geographically-based bus and light rail proposals.  CANS looked just ten years ahead, to 2011.

CANS made the following recommendations, which were endorsed by the City Council and the WMPTA.

  • bus services to be retained as the core of the public transport system for the foreseeable future with a comprehensive network upgrade
  • a Bus Quality Contract may be required if a Bus Quality Partnership cannot be made to work
  • in the longer term there is a need to investigate further Light Rapid Transit on the Coventry - Nuneaton route,  and the potential for Guided Light Transit ('People Mover') for connections in the city centre
  • joint working between Coventry, Solihull, Warwickshire and Centro needs to be encouraged

The study recommended enhancements on more than 80 kilometres of bus routes along fifteen corridors.  The overall cost, including more frequent services, would be nearly £90 million.

(c) West Midlands to North West Conurbations Multi-Modal Study

This study made significant proposals for both rail and M6 motorway enhancements, but no specific proposals relating to the West Midlands Metropolitan Area other than more Birmingham - Manchester rail services.  The assumptions of this study had already been fed into WMAMMS so that the two studies were internally consistent.

(d) West Midlands to East Midlands Multi-Modal Study

This study considered a broad area centred on the M42 motorway between the Metropolitan Area and Nottingham.  The recommendations included proposals that would affect travel into and within our Area, including:

  • a new station with Park & Ride and bus interchange facilities at Coleshill on the Birmingham - Nuneaton - Leicester line
  • a rail-bus link between Coleshill and Birmingham International Airport (BIA)
  • a strategic Park & Ride cordon around the West Midlands
  • substantial improvement to public transport between Nuneaton and Coventry
  • improvements to the A38 between Lichfield and Birmingham
  • improved road access to BIA via the A45 and the B4438 roads

The study was submitted in 2003 and the Government's response is still awaited.

(e) London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study

This study considered travel along a corridor which includes the A1, M1, A5 and M40 strategic routes.  It noted the constraint on rail services into the West Midlands and included a recommendation to four-track the line between Rugby and Birmingham.

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