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Home , Alexander Stadium, Network (typeface), West Midlands Metro

event planning gets set for 2022 showcase

 Alexander Stadium will be rebuilt for spectators watching athletics events during the Games

New lines, bus and improved rail stations will be introduced in the ahead of the region hosting the Commonwealth Games three summers from now.

ore than a million spectators centre also promise to ease journeys do differently and supporting them in are set to descend on for visitors as well as for residents and choosing more sustainable travel.” MBirmingham in July 2022 as businesses. Birmingham has a good reputation the city welcomes over 12,000 athletes All of these enhancements, however, for hosting major sporting events, and officials taking part in the next will not just be of benefit during the she adds, such as Commonwealth Games. Games; it is hoped they will encourage athletics at the city’s Alexander Before the end of this year a alternative travel options for the longer Stadium and Rugby World Cup consultation closes on a draft of the term and persuade more local people to matches in 2015. Anne acknowledges city’s strategic transport plan for the “We want to give use sustainable forms of transport. that the Commonwealth Games is on a Games which details several significant people choices Birmingham is said to be the UK’s much greater scale, with events taking infrastructure improvements. and point them third most congested city, with traffic place at multiple venues over a longer These include extensions to the in the right speeds 15% below average. But as period of time, but says the region is up , new routes direction.” Transport for West Midlands’ director to the challenge. Anne Shaw for a Sprint scheme of resilience Anne Shaw It will also be ready, she adds, in spite and upgrades to Birmingham’s FCIHT explains: “People will get out of of Birmingham being asked to bring University and stations, as their cars if they have better choices. forward its staging of the Games by well as to rail hubs at Coventry and By 2022, when several infrastructure four years after the South African city . projects are completed, there will be of Durban was dropped as the host for Additional park and ride provision, greater choice.” 2022. “We already had a good transport  A tram on test integrated smartcard ticketing and near Centenary She adds that transport officials plan in place, did quite a bit of planning a regional transport co-ordination Square TFWM are focused not only on providing for 2026 and learnt some lessons additional capacity and making from previous Games; so we are well existing networks function efficiently, prepared to host the next event.” but also better managing travel Anne says that Transport for West demand by persuading more people to Midlands is working very closely with change their travel habits. the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Construction activity under way Games Organising Committee on to improve transport in the region delivering an integrated approach to ahead of the Games could, she adds, managing mobility during the event. prove “a real opportunity for long term It is also in close consultation with behaviour change”. local councils, the Combined Authority, “We want to give people choices Highways , and and point them in the right direction, to ensure everyone’s so we are improving our customer forward programmes are understood. information services by telling them “The big thing here is about bringing what is happening, where and how it transport teams together at the may affect their journey, what they can beginning. We are building a single

12 transportation professional event planning

Tram, rapid bus and highway plans move forward

Finishing touches are being made to an extension  Perry Barr of Birmingham’s tram network, which will shortly flyover could be allow passengers to continue their journey from demolished the current city centre terminus outside New Street railway station towards . In two years the route will continue to . At the other end of the metro line, a spur will open next year to serve a new interchange with rail services at Wolverhampton station. Further metro extensions, planned to open after the Commonwealth Games in 2022, will link to a High Speed 2 terminus and to . New segregated cycleway has opened along removing the flyover will “cause residents in the The region also has seven ‘Sprint’ bus rapid the A34 and the A38 and may be followed with a north of the city horrendous issues for years” and transit routes on the drawing board to provide bicycle share scheme. Liberal Democrat councillor Jon Hunt said the mass transit vehicles with either dedicated One transport related proposal on the proposed closure would be “enormously harmful running lanes or priority at traffic signals. Two doorstep of the athletes’ village has proved to the local economy”. routes are set to be introduced before the controversial. Plans to change the highway layout Separate to the Games, a long term transport Games to serve competition venues. They are around Perry Barr including demolition of a plan is to be published by the council shortly. along the A34 between Birmingham and Great flyover were approved by the Labour controlled Some suggest that it could include a proposal Barr and the A45 from the city centre to the Birmingham City Council in October but have to close certain key roads to help improve the National Exhibition Centre. Further phases of been challenged by opposition parties. way people move around the city. Next summer, development will open after the Games. Conservative councillor Robert Alden said Birmingham is set to introduce a Clean Air Zone.

view of all infrastructure programmes, family’ at certain times to ensure so we know what is coming and what a smooth passage for athletes and is likely to disrupt the transport officials. But Anne says that any traffic network.” restrictions will be minimal and adds Central to this vision will be the that it is not certain whether dedicated opening of the region’s new multi lanes will be required. modal, multi agency transport Birmingham 2022 chief executive co-ordination centre which goes live Ian Reid said of the transport plan: “I in December to monitor public encourage people from across the West transport, the road network, safety Midlands to take a look and provide and security in real time. feedback on our suggested approach.” Spectators with tickets to a sporting BMX star promotes cycling: event will enjoy free travel by public One prominent figure who will be transport – including dedicated taking a keen interest in Birmingham’s bus shuttles – as organisers look to Commonwealth Games preparations is promote a ‘clean and green’ Games. the former world BMX and track cycling During the 12 days of competition champion Shanaze Reade, who was  A proposed access to some key roads may be ‘Sprint’ bus named the West Midlands’ cycling and restricted to members of the ‘Games TFWM walking ambassador earlier this year. This summer Shanaze joined forces Wolverhampton with fellow active travel champions M6 Toll M42 from Greater Manchester, Liverpool,

Alexander , Sheffield and Scotland in Stadium Sprint routes opening for 2022 calling for long term devolved funding West Midlands Metro for walking and cycling, a commitment A34 Metro extensions under way to minimum quality standards for cycle M6 Metro under development Perry Barr infrastructure and freedom to review Commonwealth Games venues traffic regulations. Birmingham Athletes’ Village Centenary “Cycling and walking are fun, Brierley Hill Square good for our health and great for the M5 Birmingham A45 Interchange environment,” she says. “I want more Edgbaston (High Speed 2) Coventry people to learn the benefits, but we can Arena NEC only do that with investment in high Coventry quality schemes for cycling and walking and improvements in safety.”

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