People in Stourbridge can get the first glimpse of what their new bus station will look like today, as Centro unveils the new designs for Stourbridge’s world class interchange.
The West Midlands transport authority decided to revisit plans for the town’s bus passenger facility after publishing its vision to transform the region’s bus services. This opened up an exciting opportunity to make the new bus station even better.
The transport blueprint – Transforming Bus Travel – sets a new quality benchmark for services, travel information, bus stations and shelters, and the new passenger facility, which will be called Stourbridge Interchange, will be the first major building project to benefit from it.
The new designs focus on providing the town with a world-class, state-of-the-art Interchange featuring modern technology, the best in bus passenger facilities and including environmentally friendly design ideas.
The Interchange entrance will include a landmark canopy focal point and new covered walkway which will link the existing subway from Foster Street - which will be enhanced to become more open and bright - to the main facilities building.
A modern, striking and spacious facilities building and concourse will include toilets, a retail unit (which could provide passenger information and tickets) and electronic passenger information boards which will tell passengers when their bus is due.
There will be eight bus stands served by high quality waiting areas of spacious design which will allow easy passenger circulation, with doors that open for passengers when the bus arrives. There will also be an additional bus stop on Vauxhall Road allowing easy interchange between bus and rail.
The whole facility has been designed to allow easy access for all users, and Ring & Ride services will have facilities to drop off and pick up passengers at the Interchange.
Throughout the new Interchange there will also be CCTV, help points, and a public address system.
A focus is also being placed on improving walking routes into the town centre and creating better links to the innovative Parry People Mover connection to Stourbridge Junction, allowing for easy interchange between bus and rail services.
To ensure the new facility has as little impact on the environment as possible, the new plans will look to use as many sustainable systems as possible. These could include maximising the use of natural ventilation and lighting, and using natural products.
Cllr Angus Adams, Cabinet Member for Transport at Dudley Council and Lead Member for Dudley at Centro, said: “This is the first major public transport building project in the West Midlands to adopt the high quality, world class standards set out in Transforming Bus Travel.
“Stourbridge’s new interchange will set the benchmark for all future public transport projects in the Region. It is therefore essential we provide a striking state-of-the-art facility that not only helps to put the town on the map as a place to visit, but puts the West Midlands on the map as a place of best practice for world class public transport facilities that are modern, eye-catching and easy to use.”
Detailed plans for Stourbridge Interchange will be submitted for planning approval in late July or early August, and Centro hope it will be approved by Dudley Council’s planning committee in the autumn.
Work is expected to start on the new interchange in 2010 and should be completed by 2011. Anyone wanting to find out more information about the scheme can visit the Network West Midlands marquee on Foster Street in Stourbridge on Saturday 18th July or Tuesday 21st July between 9am and 3pm.
More information is also available at www.networkwestmidlands.com/stourbridge
