The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have agree to advance £50 million worth of funding for transport projects in the region – involving both the West Midlands Metro and Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR).
The big headline grabbing project within this announcement is that it will allow detailed design, surveys and business cases to be progressed on the West Midlands Metro extension to serve Birmingham City FC’s proposed new stadium in east Birmingham.
This high-profile project would be a continuation of the current Birmingham Eastside extension and would head to the planned Sports Quarter which as well as providing a new home for Birmingham City FC would also bring new homes and thousands of jobs for the community. It should also provide the catalyst for a further extension of this line towards Solihull and beyond.
Also due to benefit will be Coventry Very Light Rail. Money for this project will go towards upgrades of the tram, and the innovative slab and track technology. This project – which its hoped will cut costs across the country for cities who can’t justify a full light rail network – is continuing to move on after its short demonstration track last year. Another demonstration line (longer this time) is planned and this money will help the project achieve its aims.
As well as the light rail/very light rail projects money will go towards railway station upgrades particularly around Villa Park – the WMCA obviously not wanting to show favouritism for one side or the other!
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Fans deserve a modern, reliable and affordable public transport to get them to and from their stadium on matchdays – so we have made these projects a priority and provided the funding to get them started straight away.
“This funding means we can complete essential design and survey work at an earlier stage and be ready to get spades in the ground next year. Together we are building a new transport network to fuel the economy, secure investment and bring the new homes and jobs local people need.”
The £50 million going towards these projects is an advance on the £2.4 billion Transport for City Regions funding which will be available between 2027 and 2032. That fund has already committed £400 million for Sports Quarter transport links.