Increasing levels of traffic congestion are hitting the competitiveness of the West Midlands region.
The worrying trend is highlighted in latest Government statistics, which show the output of workers in the region increasing by less than the national average and the value of local-produced exports dropping. At the same time, the amount of traffic on the roads is increasing by above average and vehicle speeds are falling.
Cars and lorries caught up in West Midlands jams are now travelling almost six per cent slower, according to the Department of Trade and Industry report on competitiveness of the regions. In contrast, average traffic speeds in every other English region increased between 1998 and 2003.
In some cases traffic elsewhere was able to travel up to ten per cent faster, even though those regions saw similar increases in the actual number of vehicles on major roads.
“This really does start to highlight how increasing levels of congestion can damage our regional economy,” comments Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of West Midlands transport body Centro-PTA.
“We need to persuade Government of the importance of investing in an integrated transport system to keep people and goods on the move – and we need to work together as a region to tackle congestion.”
The Dti statistics are for the wider West Midlands region, including shire counties, and show around three-quarters of people travelling to work by car. Public transport use is much higher in the major conurbation and in Birmingham commuters using the bus, train and Midland Metro to get to work are now in the majority.
“It seems pretty clear that greater use of an improved public transport network will be the way to improve quality of life and to keep the West Midlands competitive,” adds Cllr Clarke.
Schemes funded by Centro-PTA, such as park and ride, are now taking almost three million car journeys a year off the region’s congested roads – and a Government decision on expanding the Midland Metro tram network across Birmingham and the Black Country is awaited.
Link: Government statistics on the web
