Local views on improvements to the bus, train and tram network are to be built in to a new plan for transport in the region.
Almost a million leaflets are being delivered to homes in the West Midlands for people to have their say on the Provisional Local Transport Plan (LTP) which will be sent to Government next year. The views of hundreds of local businesses, environment, community and voluntary groups are also being canvassed.
The LTP sets more than £1bn worth of measures to reduce traffic congestion, improve public transport and make the best use of the roads and rail network across all seven Metropolitan Authorities in the West Midlands.
The results of the consultation will be taken on board before the final plan is produced and submitted to government in March 2006. The LTP is the document used by government to decide future levels of transport funding.
Cllr Roger Lawrence, the West Midlands’ Transport Champion, said: ‘Transport is at the top of the agenda in the West Midlands and I would urge everyone to take this opportunity to have their say before we finalise the Local Transport Plan. The Government will use our plan to decide the levels of transport funding the West Midlands should receive in the future.
‘The Metropolitan Authorities want to tackle congestion and see a step-change in the local transport system. This will require investment. Without investment we are putting our competitiveness at risk by limiting the growth of new jobs and housing in the conurbation, the wider region and the UK as a whole. We want everyone in the West Midlands behind the plan so please do get involved in this major consultation.’
The West Midlands’ Local Transport Plan is produced jointly by the seven Metropolitan Authorities and public transport body Centro-PTA. Everyone can get involved in the LTP consultation by logging on to www.westmidlandsltp.gov.uk and following the on-screen instructions.
The consultation is also explicitly asking for views on the pros and cons of tackling congestion. The West Midlands has submitted a bid to government to help fund a feasibility study to look at congestion and the options for tackling it, including road pricing.
