The West Midlands has been awarded £1 billion in funding to expand the region’s tram, train, bus and cycle networks.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) secured the money from the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement fund.
Money will now be used to kickstart a wide range of projects from new Metro extensions to more electric vehicle charging points in a move to decarbonise the region’s transport system, create new jobs and bolster the fight against climate change.
A bid document, developed in partnership across the region and submitted to the Department for Transport last month, set out priorities for transport investment.
The bid set out how funding would support early planning and development work on new Metro extensions in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and be used to build new rail stations and bus interchanges at Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Aldridge.
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Funding will also support the roll out of a very light rail network in Coventry.
Around 1,000 electric vehicle charging points are set to be installed as well as ultra-fast charging facilities for electric heavy goods vehicles, vans and buses.
A raft of new safe cycling routes would also be developed to encourage people to be more active on their commute.
Following the funding announcement, West Midlands civic and business leaders will now begin working up details of the projects that will be taken forward and presented back to the Government. This funding will cover five years from next April.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “I am absolutely delighted that our ambition has paid off and we’ve secured more than £1 billion of government investment to continue our transport revolution here in the West Midlands.
“It is the largest single transport sum we have ever received and I know the team cannot wait to press on and start getting diggers in the ground on some truly game-changing schemes.”
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