SUBSCRIBE TO RSS THURSDAY 11th NOVEMBER 2010

Vision Unlimited

Transport blueprint sets out vision for vibrant 21st century city

A compelling vision to transform the way people come into and move around Birmingham city centre has been launched by business, council and transport chiefs.

‘Vision for Movement’ lays the foundations for a comprehensive network of rapid transit, bus, rail, cycling and walking routes to underpin Birmingham’s economic regeneration and help cement its future as a vibrant, global city.

The Vision is the result of a newly formed partnership between the city’s business community, by way of its Business Improvement Districts (BID’s), Birmingham City Council, transport authority Centro and National Express West Midlands.

Its goal is to create a well connected, efficient and walkable city by finding transport solutions that are realistic and deliverable in the short to medium term but also co-ordinate with longer-term schemes outlined in the document’s 20-year timeframe.

Vision for Movement will also form an important element of the wider Big City Plan, a far reaching blueprint for how the heart of Birmingham should develop over the next two decades.

Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, welcomed the blueprint saying:

The Big City Plan has set out our bold vision and framework for Birmingham’s growth and prosperity over the next 20 years – with new jobs, homes, cultural and leisure opportunities. The Vision for Movement will form an essential part of our Big City Plan, adding the detail about how people will travel safely, efficiently and easily within a welcoming environment. In a sophisticated partnership with the private sector we are setting out clearly how we want to create a more connected city. Bringing together the immense possibilities before us – which include High Speed Rail, major infrastructure investments in New Street and Metro – I believe Birmingham now really is on the cusp of gaining a transport infrastructure that truly befits a global destination.

The Vision’s proposals include;

• Support for the continued rebuilding of New Street Station and the extension of the Midland Metro on to the city centre streets
• A network of flexible rapid transit routes, known as Birmingham Sprint, will be developed. It will be a high quality, tram-style service benefiting from highway priority measures to speed up journeys.
• Alterations to the rail network at Camp Hill to open new passenger stations on the rail lines out to Kings Norton and Tamworth;
• The transformation of existing bus services with high quality, green vehicles, new city centre passenger interchanges and hi-tech travel information
• Park and Ride facilities to support rapid transit and cycle routes and reduce demand for car journeys into the city;
• Improving the efficiency of the existing road network by remodelling key junctions, making it easier to use the Ring Road and installing traffic management systems that give priority to public transport, cycling and walking.