Business News


Mayor’s plan to take on congestion


West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has launched an action plan aimed at combating congestion on key regional roads. Mr Street says he wants to reduce the region’s dependence on cars by


stepping up investment in public transport. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has already secured


£4.4 billion from Government to improve connections to HS2, and work is taking place to tackle congestion hotspots across the region and ensure there is greater coordination to avoid disruption. To help with this, Anne Shaw has joined the WMCA as director of


network resilience. She is working with Highways England, Network Rail, the Department for Transport, local authorities and other key players to ensure transport construction works are coordinated and congestion tackled. This focuses on what is known as the ‘Key Route Network’, a number of important non-motorway roads across the region for which the Mayor has responsibility. The investment includes the use of ‘intelligent’ traffic signal technology which will self-adjust to traffic conditions and which will be in operation by April 2018. Mr Street said: “It is no secret that we have a major issue with congestion


Senior policy and patron


advisor Raj Kandola said: “Our members have made it clear that they want to see greater investment in the transport networks and modernising payment systems to get more people to use public transport. There is also a willingness for firms to consider implementing flexible working policies to help ease traffic flows. “In the long term, it is clear


public sector bodies need to work closely with the business sector to tackle this problem and unlock prosperity for the region.” Among the Chamber’s


recommendations for tackling the congestion crisis is urgent investment in the local transport network, to take advantage of the new high speed rail line between the Midlands and London (HS2). The Chamber said this


investment must include significant spending on the ‘ailing road network’ and has demanded similar spending levels to the £2.2bn committed to London and the South East. However, the Chamber says


that this investment alone will not suffice, and is calling for a range of technology led improvements, including an increase in Active Traffic Management systems across the local motorway network. Better use of technology is


also needed to increase usage of public transport, for example the new integrated transport app by Transport for West Midlands. This is the ‘Whim’ app, which


encourages people to use transport other than their car by enabling them to pay for their transport over the course of a month as they need it.


Congestion busters: Anne Shaw with Andy Street


in the West Midlands, a situation which is brought into even sharper focus when we have major infrastructure repairs or improvements that require roads and junctions to be closed. “Clearly, the long-term approach has


to involve moving people out of cars and this will require a revolution in investment in rail, buses, trams and cycling. Cllr Roger Lawrence’s work for the WMCA on this as transport lead has been outstanding. “But this will take many years to fully deliver. In the meantime, this


‘The long-term approach has to involve moving people out of cars’


congestion busting action plan will take simple but effective steps to overcome some of the issues that rightly frustrate commuters. “The number one point of frustration tends to be a lack of coordination.


At times roadworks appear badly planned and poorly communicated and this is sometimes a fair criticism.” Anne Shaw said: “The next five years promise to be challenging ones for


our region as the investment will inevitably mean disruption for the public which we need to manage really carefully. “Local authorities and other agencies need to work more strategically to


both tackle congestion and minimise the impact of work. I am convinced there is the will to do this and look forward to playing my part. “It is therefore vital that we understand perceptions of congestion and


considerations of the key issues to be addressed. The research undertaken by the Chamber is vital to help the Combined Authority to understand your views and so this piece of work will provide invaluable insight. “It is also pleasing to see a recognition that businesses contribute to the


problem and the proactive approach helping to identify solutions. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the Chamber to help manage congestion.”


Rail companies come together


Britain’s rail industry has made a series of commitments to transform services and drive £85bn of additional economic benefits to the economy. Train operators, their


suppliers and Network Rail have promised a revolution on the railways over the next 18 months, with investment in new carriages, more convenient ticketing systems and better punctuality. The plan, set out by the


Railway Delivery Group, has received backing from business and passenger groups. Titled ‘In Partnership for


Britain’s Prosperity’, the plan is backed by all passenger train operating companies and Network Rail, as well as rail freight companies and the supply chain acting in partnership as one railway for Britain. The four commitments made in the plan are:


• Strengthen the railway’s contribution to the economy, keeping running costs in the black, freeing up taxpayers’ money;


• Increase customer satisfaction by improving the railway to remain the top-rated major railway in Europe;


• Boost local communities through localised decision making and investment;


• Create more jobs, increase diversity and provide our employees with rewarding careers.


The Rail Delivery Group has


promised to invest £50bn in order to deliver 5,700 new carriages and 6,400 new services per week by 2021. Tracks and stations will also


be upgraded. December 2017/January 2018 CHAMBERLINK7


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