Councillor Gary Clarke has been chosen to lead Centro, the region’s integrated transport authority for another year.

Fellow members re-elected Cllr Clarke as Chairman at the authority’s annual general meeting. (Monday June 29).

It is the sixth year running that Cllr Clarke has been elected as Chairman of Centro, which develops and promotes public transport across the West Midlands.

Cllr Clarke said: “I am delighted that the authority has re-elected me.

“The next 12 months promise to be busy but exciting ones as we continue to shape our future transport system and work towards the world class network the region needs and deserves.

“The next year is set to see work start on the rebuilding of New Street Station, the region’s submission to Government of the business cases for an expansion of the Metro tram system and the introduction of smartcards similar to London’s successful Oyster card.

“Our goal is to make it even easier and more convenient for people to switch from car to public transport, helping to cut congestion and carbon emissions.”

Cllr Clarke has been a Walsall councillor since 1998. He became a member of Centro in 2002 and was elected chairman in 2004.

The annual general meeting also saw Cllr Christine Mills, who represents Wolverhampton, elected as Vice Chair of Centro.

Cllr Mills said: “It’s a real honour to be elected to this post especially at time when effective public transport has become so important to our local economy and environment.

“Public transport is an issue that affects people’s every day lives and I’m looking forward to working with the Chairman to help further improve the bus, rail and Metro systems that together make up Network West Midlands.”

The Integrated Transport Authority is made up of 27 councillors from the region’s seven metropolitan councils, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.