In the recent Mayoral election for Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham was elected for another term and in the immediate aftermath has vowed to put transport at the centre of his plans. While the headline of this is to accelerate the plans for bus franchising, Metrolink isn’t left out with Mr Burnham asking TfGM to bring forward plans to bring the tram to Middleton.
Mr Burnham explains more about his plans: “Across the world, the most successful city-regions have one thing in common – an affordable, integrated and accessible transport network. People in Greater Manchester have made clear that they won’t settle for second best any longer – that is why on day one of my second term as Mayor I’m vowing to accelerate the delivery of a world-class transport network for our city-region and its people. It is absolutely critical to our future economic and social prosperity. People here deserve a transport network where you can seamlessly travel across our city-region on buses, trams and trains – without spending a fortune each time. We will deliver this alongside hundreds of new Electric Vehicle charging points, a bike hire scheme and world-class cycling and walking corridors which will make everyday trips to school, to work and to the shops safe, easy and fun. This will benefit our people and our planet as we step up our plans for carbon neutrality.”
Although not in the direct remit of this website, the plans for bus franchising were recently agreed in Greater Manchester and it is now hoped that this can be accelerated to ensure all parts of Greater Manchester have better buses, integrated with Metrolink by May 2024 – 12 months earlier than previously planned. There are also plans to deliver 95 new electric vehicle charging points, 100km of cycling and walking routes by the end of 2021, a new bike hire scheme and to make all railway stations accessible by 2025 (in partnership with Network Rail).
The Mayor has also written to Rochdale Council offering his support for the creation of a new partnership to drive the regeneration of Middleton Town Centre and is asking TfGM to accelerate the development of a business case to bring Metrolink to Middleton.
Mr Burnham is also keen to reduce ticket prices in Greater Manchester after taking a journey on bus and tram from Middleton to MediaCityUK via Piccadilly Gardens at the cost of £4.30 (bus from Middleton to Piccadilly Gardens at £2.50 and tram to MediaCityUK at £2.80). The press release gives prices of £1.55 in London for a single bus journey while a single tube journey over a distance of over two miles is £2.40. There is also a daily cap of £7.40 for travel across bus and tube journeys for Zones 1 and 2. Although how much these London fares go up in the future after negotiations with the government remains to be seen!
It has also been confirmed that Greater Manchester’s entire transport network will now be known as the Bee Network.
95 new electric charge points? every car parking space will need one if this green revolution comes to us.
95 wont even scratch the surface of whats needed.
And he’s currently got 6 whole months to deliver 100km of new cycling and walking routes! 6 months?
He’d be better off sorting the cycleways out, which in some places are causing more congestion than ever, and sorting out more tram extensions?