Latest news with #CityRegionSustainableTransportSettlement
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal
A new Tyne and Wear Metro line will be built for the first time in 30 years, as part of a £1.85bn government investment. The money would help meet the cost of the route to Washington, Sunderland, with funds also expected to come from the private sector, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) said. It is hoped the new line, estimated to cost about £900m, will start running in 2033. Nexus, which operates the Metro system, said it was "a historic moment". "This project is going to be transformative for the people of Washington and our customers, opening a new Metro route corridor along the northern part of the former Leamside Line to one of our region's largest towns," said Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would award £15.6bn in total to areas across the UK. A feasibility study into the new Metro route is already under way, alongside design work for the stations, bridges and other infrastructure. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she secured the investment after raising it with Reeves. The money would also help create a so-called Angel Network, she said, a public transport system which would use contactless smart travel across buses, Metros and trains. "This is a game-changing moment for the people of our region, who can look forward to a truly world-class integrated public transport network, safer walking and cycling routes throughout our towns and cities, better local roads and a massive acceleration on our journey to an EV [electric vehicle] future," McGuinness said. The leader of Sunderland City Council, councillor Michael Mordey, called the announcement "great news" for Washington and the whole city. He said the new line would "transform public transport for people living in Washington" and help connect people to jobs at nearby Nissan and International Advanced Manufacturing Park. "We have waited a long time to see Metro reach Washington with a direct line from the city centre," Mordey added. The funding has been agreed as the latest phase of the region's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS2). It will cover the period from 2027 to 2032. The package would also fund highways maintenance, walking and cycling routes, hundreds of new EV charging points and new measures to make bus journey times more reliable, NECA said. Rachel Anderson, assistant director for policy at North East Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the investment. "Upgrading our local transport networks, including progress on the Washington Metro link, is vital to connecting people to opportunity and driving regional growth," she added. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New Metro line feasibility study under way Mayor recommits to Metro extension plan North East Combined Authority Nexus
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for city centre road changes set to progress
A major step forward is expected be taken this week for big changes to several roads in Bristol city centre. Over the next few years, roadworks will completely revamp Bond Street, Union Street, Broadmead, the Horsefair, the Haymarket, and the Redcliffe roundabout. The changes include installing new bus lanes and bike lanes in a bid to cut congestion and air pollution. Bristol City Council is hoping to encourage people to swap car travel for bus journeys, walking or cycling, but needs to upgrade infrastructure first. Councillors on the transport policy committee were expected to sign off the latest stage of the works on Thursday, although some were already unhappy with the proposed plans. Ahead of the committee meeting, new images and details of the changes have been revealed. Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport committee, said: "The plans for the Broadmead area are about more than improving transport routes and mark the beginning of a huge regeneration of the area that will see new homes and retail and leisure facilities developed. "In preparation, we need to improve bus routes and create pedestrian-friendly spaces that make it easier and more pleasant to travel actively." New bus lanes will be installed on Bond Street, and a new cycle route will also be created through St Paul's running parallel with Bond Street. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Opposing the Bond Street changes is Liberal Democrat councillor Nicholas Coombes, who says they would cause congestion due to there being less space for cars. He added: "It is unrealistic to say that car drivers are going to switch to the bus before we even have plans for a park and ride." After a public consultation last summer, the city council is now planning to submit a full business case for the £4.52m Bond Street project to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) for approval. Bus lanes, bike lanes and new pedestrian crossings were also planned for Redcliffe roundabout. Construction was expected to start next year, costing £6.25m. Major changes were also planned for Broadmead and Union Street, including pedestrianising the Horsefair and Penn Street, giving buses more priority, and building one kilometre of segregated cycle routes. These projects will be paid for from a fund called the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, which the government gave to Weca. Travel proposals include car ban on key city roads Everything we know about Bristol's travel changes Bike paths and bus lanes approved by city council Bristol City Council transport proposals
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
Power boost for electric cars in West Midlands as 10,000 new charging points to be installed
A general view of an electric car (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire) Thousands of extra electric car charging points are to be installed on road sides across the West Midlands to stop range anxiety. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker announced another 10,000 connection points will be introduced to help the region achieve its Net Zero target for 2041. Mr Parker said latest Department for Transport figures showed the number of chargers is growing at a faster rate here than in most areas of the country. READ MORE: Ambitious skills target hit for West Midlands people but mayor says he 'won't stop there' There are now more than 4,000 publicly accessible charging points across the region's road network – the fifth highest number of all English regions outside London and a 36 per cent increase in the past year. It means residents and businesses in the West Midlands who have already made the switch now have access to the equivalent to 11 chargers per square mile. And now Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) will work with local councils to use funding secured from government to install thousands more over the coming years. This includes almost 200 charging points at nine ultra-fast filling stations where drivers will be able to power their vehicles with 100 miles or range in less than 15 minutes. Are you proud to live in Birmingham? A spokesperson for TfWM said range anxiety is one of the main reasons that drivers and company bosses have been hesitant about switching to electric vehicles with calls for the nation's charging infrastructure to be ramped up. Mr Parker said: 'The West Midlands is the beating heart of the UK car industry and I want us to lead the charge into a new era of electrification. 'Our roadside EV charging network is already one of the fastest-growing in the country, but I'm not stopping there. 'I'm giving the green light for 10,000 more charging connection points as part of our transport revolution. 'This is about building a cleaner and greener future for all of our communities, reducing pollution and tackling the climate emergency head-on.' The funding has been secured from the Department for Transport's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and as part of the region's £1.3 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Could Liverpool city centre finally get a Baltic railway station?
It is almost 110 years since the last service ran through the former Liverpool St James' railway station. But it may not be long before the city can mark the start of a new chapter for the long-abandoned site in what is now known as the Baltic Triangle area of the to resurrect a rail station has been around for more than a decade, with the reopening seen as vital to the success of the Baltic Triangle's development in Tuesday, Liverpool Council's planning committee will debate plans that would deliver a £100m new station providing about 17,000 journeys a day and for the first time in more than a century, the station could return - under a new name. Where was it? The former St James' stop sits between Brunswick and Liverpool Central. Now the area is known as the Baltic Triangle - a former industrial area around Liverpool's Jamaica Street, which is now home to independent creative and digital businesses. Why did it close? The original station opened in 1874 and was named after a nearby parish closed during the World War One as a cost-cutting measure but never reopened. Resurrection plans get on track In March 2014, Merseytravel agreed to collaborate with Liverpool Vision to investigate the cost and projected usage of reopening the January 2015, Merseytravel confirmed plans to conduct a study on the station's potential reopening during the 2015–16 financial year with it marked as a "top rail project" by Merseyrail a year later. There had been hopes the station could open as early as this year when formal plans for the revived stop were reignited in also included settling on a name for the site. Given the existing James Street station, city region leaders wanted to avoid confusing passengers and set about a public vote and Liverpool Baltic was the overwhelming winner. Who will the new station serve? Subject to the planning committee's approval after a site visit next week, the station will serve Merseyrail's Northern Line. The proposed new station is part of Metro Mayor Rotheram's Merseyrail for All commitment to reach communities currently not connected to the local rail network by utilising the region's new pioneering battery powered technology, which has made it possible to extend the lines beyond current boundaries. What can passengers expect? The station will include passenger toilets, a cycle hub, step-free access to and between both platforms and a passenger drop-off area documents revealed how the station could comprise an overground single-storey building with a tall wraparound parapet, a mezzanine level, new widened underground platforms and four lift/emergency exit station's ticket lobby and staff facilities would be located at ground floor level. Where has the cash come from? The £96m required for the station came from the £710m City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), dedicated to major transport projects across the city region. The construction phase is projected to generate around 330 jobs at a regional level with £155m in benefits over a 60-year period upon completion. Have there been any issues with the plans? The main station building will be situated on a triangular plot bordered by Stanhope Street to the south, Ashwell Street to the east and north, and the Merseyrail Northern railway line cutting to the west.A long-standing garage on Ashwell Street has warned of the detrimental effects such a development could garage, started by Mr Garrett's father in 1988, sits in an area that would become the station building and could potentially cut off vital road access for the the station bid was announced, Mr Rotheram said the new station would connect communities to jobs. Mr Garrett told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had lost members of his team because of fears they would be out of work as a Garrett said should no solution be found "it would appear that the nuclear option" to relocate from the Baltic "may be the only way forward". A Liverpool Council spokesperson said the application would consider the comments received regarding the station build while a representative for the LCRCA said they had taken into account feedback received from residents and businesses, including Mr Garrett and Ashwell Motors when designing the scheme. When is it set to open? The Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said his goal would be to deliver the station by November, Mr Rotheram said it was more likely to be towards the end of 2027 that people were able to use the new station. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Midlands Metro tram journeys surpass pre-Covid levels
Passenger numbers on the West Midlands Metro have surpassed pre-Covid to 8.3 million journeys were made over the past year, a 53.7% increase over 2023, and passing the eight million recorded in 2019, according to Department for Transport (DfT) increase follows significant investment in the network, including three new stops being added in Birmingham in 2022 and connecting with the railway and bus stations in Wolverhampton, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) first phase of the extension between Wednesbury and Dudley is due to open later this year. Construction work on the next phase to Merry Hill is also under will also be a new link to Digbeth in Birmingham, with all extensions being paid for by the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), funding awarded by the April last year a report stated that expanding the tram network carried an "enormous cost" that may prove difficult to in November's Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would provide funding for the link from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, a plan that had been beset with rising were also suspended for several months in November 2021 after cracks were found in the bodywork of trams. Sophie Allison, managing director of Midland Metro Limited, said: "These welcome figures come just weeks after our recent satisfaction survey showed that customer satisfaction also continues to reach new heights and, as we look towards further expansion, our focus will be on further enhancing the passenger experience for the thousands of people who rely on us every day."The continued growth and popularity of the Metro is a testament to the region's commitment to improving transport for everyone."Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker said he welcomed the figures, adding that the continued investment in the infrastructure supported the region's future development."Passenger numbers on the Metro are back to where they should be, and that's a direct result of the investment in our network," he said."Topping 8.3 million journeys shows that people trust the Metro to get them to the places they need to be, including work and school." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
