Agenda Item 6

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

The Cabinet

13th July 2005

The 2005 Provisional Local Transport Plan (LTP) (Cabinet Forward Plan Ref No. RT001 (ET058))

1. Summary Statement

1.1 This report asks Members to approve the 2005 Local Transport Plan (LTP) submission and the revised funding programme for West Midlands transport initiatives for the period to 2011.

1.2 The seven West Midlands metropolitan authorities and Centro work together in producing a joint LTP. The document, sets out transport policies, programmes and a bid for funding major transport schemes to make the transport safer, more efficient, more socially inclusive, sustainable, and a greater aid to economic regeneration.

1.3 We are submitting a new LTP in July this year. The final Guidance for this was only published in December 2004. This new Guidance, outline below, introduced a two stage approach. A full, provisional document needs to be submitted in July, with a final document taking into account issues such as the output from detailed accessibility planning and proposed funding levels to be submitted by March 2006.

1.4 Previously it had been agreed that this LTP should essentially be a roll forward of the 2003 LTP, reflecting the Secretary of States response to West Midlands Multi Model Study (WMAMMS) which reported in 2002. That response committed up to £1,000M for major schemes, subject to the West Midlands LTP partners putting in place a robust transport strategy. While the LTP has been in preparation the Metropolitan Authority Leaders have been pursing an engagement process with the Department for Transport (DfT) led by Robert Devereux the Director General of the DfT.

1.5 This LTP follows on from the 2003 LTP and is a refinement and re- affirmation of what is needed to keep our area moving and focuses closely on the ‘Transport Shared Priorities’ agreed with Government of Tackling congestion; Delivering improved accessibility; Improving road safety; and Producing better air quality.

1.6 The LTP vision for the future in the West Midlands is one of; • A thriving, sustainable and vibrant community were people want to live and where businesses can develop and grow. • Town, city and local centres that are attractive and vibrant where high quality public transport is the norm and walking and cycling is commonplace. • Cleaner air and less congested traffic conditions. • A safer community with fewer road accidents and environments in which people feel secure. • Equal opportunities for everyone to gain access to services and facilities and enjoy a better quality of life with travel choices that are attractive, viable and sustainable. This vision is strongly linked to a number of our Council Corporate priorities.

1.7 In addition the objectives of the LTP are • To ensure that the transport system underpins the economic revitalisation of the West Midlands. • To ensure that transport contributes towards social inclusion by increasing accessibility for everyone. • To move towards a more sustainable pattern of development and growth. • To improve safety and health for all. • To integrate all forms of transport with each other, with other land uses and with other policies and priorities.

1.8 In preparing the 2003 LTP there was an extensive consultation with the public and local stakeholders. This involvement has continued in the preparation of this new 2005 LTP. There has been a continued dialogue with the local business community, bus and rail operators, and with the Local Strategic Partnerships (LSP’s). The LSP’s have raised local issues and these have helped to form the development of the LTP strategy. In addition there has been further consultation with the public to ensure that the general direction of the 2003 LTP is still supported. A consultation leaflet and questionnaire was distributed in free newspapers across the West Midlands. There was strong support for better rail and bus services, greater priority to walking, more encouragement of safer motoring, and of spending more on highway maintenance for the benefit of all road users.

1.9 The document contains a considerable number of pages. In the interests of sustainability and for practical reasons, therefore, the document has not been included with this report. A copy has been deposited in the Members Lounge for Members to consult. Alternatively, copies can be supplied on request to the Democratic Services Unit (contact Mike Keay – 0121 - 569 3184) or it can be viewed by members and the public on the Council’s Committee Management Information System (CMIS) by logging onto the Council’s website www..gov.uk.

1.10 As part of the Governments response to WMAMMS, £I billion was pledged to the West Midlands subject to schemes being based on a sound transportation strategy. The 2003 LTP provided that foundation and the overall direction remains the same and so the main issues addressed by the 2005 LTP include: • Expansion of the Midland Metro network

• Bus improvements

• A network of ‘red routes’ to keep traffic on main roads moving

• Enhanced walking and cycling facilities

• More funding for carriageway and bridge maintenance

The LTP provides funding for a whole range of capital transport projects, from multi-million pound bypasses to audible signals at pelican crossings for the benefit of blind people. LTP spending can therefore impact on the lives of all Sandwell residents in some way. Recent achievements include major scheme commencement in Cradley Heath and Blackheath, extensive safety and traffic calming schemes, walking and cycling schemes, bus showcase route enhancements, and maintenance schemes on our highways and bridges.

1.11 The LTP includes a revised bus strategy and a statement on demand management.

1.12 The Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, has indicated that he wishes to examine the potential benefits of introducing a system of road pricing as a long-term measure to tackle growing congestion. He has initiated a debate on such a proposal and indicated that a pilot be undertaken, probably in a major conurbation or region.

1.13 The West Midlands conurbation is determined to deal with congestion. The provisional LTP marks the start of a process of research, debate and consultation that is designed to lead to effective solutions to congestion. Since late 2004 the conurbation has been working with DfT on ways in which innovative approaches to demand management in the West Midlands could be progressed. Solutions that are right for the conurbation and enable the West Midlands to meet its aspirations for future growth and regeneration will be sought.

1.14 There are many approaches to dealing with congestion, with the cordon system of charging used in London just one way of approaching the problem and there are many alternatives, for example : • Targeting of peak time travel behaviours

• Electronic road pricing by locality and time of day

• Home working and variable workplace hours

• Parking standards

1.15 The conurbation is clear that no form of road pricing could be introduced unless certain conditions are in place in particular

• Any schemes must improve and not detract from the regions competitiveness

• Appropriate transport alternatives must be significantly funded and coming on stream to provide choice.

• The factors affecting the conurbations ability to deliver quality bus services must be addressed.

• There must be discussions about possible ways of providing a dedicated revenue stream for reinvestment in transport in the West Midlands

• The innovation and knowledge of the West Midlands should be fully utilised in taking any initiatives forward.

1.16 Any solutions must also

• Take account of any national road-pricing scheme and the West Midlands position at the heart of the country’s motorway network.

• Be responsive to specific local conditions in the conurbation both in terms of location and time of day

• Be integrated with the overall transport strategy for the conurbation

• Be consistent with the conurbations economic growth, regeneration and social inclusion strategies and align with regional transport strategies

1.17 Discussions with the DfT are to be initiated to determine ways in which innovative approaches to demand management, that reflect the particular circumstances of the West Midlands, can be advanced. These will pave the way for further work, utilizing funding available from the Transport innovation Fund, to determine the applicability of different approaches to the West Midland.

Further details are attached for your information

2. Recommendations

2.1 That the Council be recommended to:

(a) Approve the 2005 West Midlands Local Transport Plan;

(b) Authorise the Leader of the Council to agree any final changes to the Local Transport Plan in consultation with the Leaders of the other West Midlands Councils.

Robert A Lee Director of Planning and Transportation

Contact Officer John Hawkins Planning and Transportation, 0121 569 4221 The 2005 Local Transport Plan (LTP)

3. Strategic Resource Implications

3.1 The 2005 LTP is an agreed programme for spending Central Government funding on transport schemes within the area covered by the seven West Midlands metropolitan authorities.

4. Legal and Statutory Implications

4.1 It is a statutory requirement for most Local authorities to produce a Local Transport Plan. The 2005 LTP is prepared and submitted on behalf of the seven West Midlands metropolitan authorities and Centro. It sets out the targets and objectives that we aim to achieve over the next five-year period up to 2011.

5. Implications for the Council’s Corporate Priorities

5.1 The LTP has strategies and programmes that will help to transform the physical environment and help to make the borough safer, cleaner and tidier.

8. Background Details

8.1 The West Midlands Metropolitan Authorities are required to work together to submit a Local Transport Plan (LTP) which contains policies relating to the promotion of safe, socially inclusive, integrated, efficient and economic transport services. These should meet the needs of people living, working, visiting and passing through the local area. The LTP process is also the means by which authorities bid for capital funding from Government to deliver their transport objectives.

8.2 In response to the Transport Act 2000 the first LTP was jointly prepared by the West Midlands Authorities in July 2000 for a period covering the years 2001/02 to 2005/06.

8.3 In preparing the 2003 LTP the West Midlands Authorities carried out an extensive consultation process. This involved the publication of a discussion document entitled ‘Moving with the Times’ in September 2002. This formed the basis for discussion with key stakeholders, meetings of transport forums, circulation to a very wide range of interest and community groups (3000), reply paid questionnaires in newspapers across the metropolitan area and detailed focus groups with different specialised sectors. The results of this consultation process have assisted the formulation of the revised plan.

8.4 In addition in Sandwell a Transport Vision 2020 was prepared. It outlined the overall strategy that would be pursued to achieve the Council’s aspirations for transport and detailed schemes. The schemes included those already committed by the approved 2000 LTP, namely: Metro Line 1 extensions; Cradley Heath Bypass; Owen Street Level Crossing Relief Road; Blackheath Town Centre Strategy; Bus Station; Bus Showcase; and;

the schemes identified in WMAMMS, namely: Bus Showcase; Future Metro Routes; upgrading the West Coast Main Line, and; improving links to the Black Country for regeneration (M5 to A4100).

8.8 The Draft Vision was subject to extensive consultation, presentations and reports to all the Town Committees and Sandwell Direct Cabinet Advisory Team. The Vision was approved at the Urban Form Cabinet Advisory Team on 29th October 2002. This has enabled Sandwell to input a detailed list of schemes into the LTP process, thereby assisting in the formulation of the LTP now being considered for approval by Council.

8.10 As a key framework policy document the LTP requires that the approval of all seven authorities and the PTA must be individually sought. The West Midlands Leaders -Committee considered the document at its meeting on 8th June, and commended it for approval by the Districts. Each Council and the WMPTA must approve the same document so the copy of the 2005 LTP as approved by the PTA on June 20th has been sent to members. It is being circulated to all major stakeholders in parallel to the formal approval process through the Councils.

8.11 The approval process, which began on 20th June, concludes with Sandwell being the last of the seven Metropolitan Councils to approve it, with submission to the Government on July 29th. It is however recognised that circumstances may change, further technical work is likely to be completed and individual authorities might suggest changes. In order to be able to accommodate such variations whilst maintaining the individual approvals of each Council it is proposed that each Council should delegate the responsibility for late changes to details of the report to the Leader of the council.

8.12 The LTP consists of an Executive Report that contains the background, the main policy issues and the future capital programme. This report is supported by a document of supplementary appendices that outline in more detail the policies and programmes to be adopted. This is a bulky document arising from the prescriptive way that information is to be provided to Government. The Bus Strategy is an integral part of the LTP.

8.13 Transport enables us all to travel to work and school, meet our friends, do our shopping, move our goods and go on holiday. It is part of everybody’s existence; without it life could not exist, as we know it. Creating a transport system that matches the requirements for our 21st Century lifestyles is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Getting it wrong leads to congestion, delays, inability to reach jobs and shops, a poor environment, increased health problems and generally a poorer existence for us all.

8.14 This revised LTP sets out what we need to do, and what else needs to happen, in order to ensure that the West Midlands has a world-class transport system that meets the aspirations of all its citizens, visitors and the businesses that operate here. This will be a system that helps the economy to thrive, improves the environment and enhances the quality of life, all in a safe and sustainable way.

8.16 Whilst access to a car continues to grow there are some 35% of households within the metropolitan area that do not have a car and over 50% of the population who are reliant on public transport to meet there daily requirements for mobility. The support and development of public transport is therefore a necessity to provide for the needs of half of the population of the area as well as seeking to provide a viable alternative for those currently using other modes.

8.17 Policy Framework The Bus Strategy is an important element in reducing congestion and is a complementary document to the main LTP. It has three over-arching objectives, one of which is directly focused on alleviating congestion:'To encourage transfer of car use to public transport in the Metropolitan Area at busy times to reduce congestion and at other times to maintain public transport’s universality and commercial viability'. 8.18 • The bus strategy is based on:

Driving up quality

Improving reliability & journey times particularly through Red Routes and UTC

Improving information by building on Mattisse

• Ensuring the efficient use of bus lanes (HOV trials etc.) • “Headline” outcomes of:

No increase in congestion

An efficient Road network

• Encouraging extra trips by public transport and walking / cycling

• That work should continue on all proposed Major Schemes (including reserve Schemes).

That the approach of top-slicing the LTP to support promotion and more efficient use of the network continues.

8.19 The main issues addressed by the 2003 LTP included: • An expanded metro network building on Line One, initially to extend to Edgbaston and Wednesbury / Brierley Hill and then through further extensions to create a network of routes

• An expanded programme of Bus Showcase routes

• A programme of area-based bus improvement measures

• Improved bus priority through traffic signals

• The delivery of a comprehensive network of ‘red routes’ designed to keep the main traffic and bus arteries operating efficiently through better management of parking and loading

• Improvements to Urban Traffic Control systems and real time information systems

• New initiatives to improve pedestrian facilities

• Park and Ride facilities

• Additional funding to improve the carriageway and bridge maintenance regimes

8.18 In addition to these major new initiatives the Plan sets out a steady growth in the requirements for ‘core funding’ to deliver improvements in traffic management, safety schemes and minor improvements. LTP spending can therefore impact on the lives of all Sandwell residents in some way. Recent achievements and proposals funded by the LTP in each of the six towns are listed in Appendix 1.

8.19 New Guidance The new Guidance has introduced a number of changes to the way LTPs are prepared and assessed. The key ones are as follows: 8.20 Focus - The LTP has to focus on delivery of the Transport Shared Priority (TSP) and the four themes of congestion, accessibility, and air quality and road safety. Our additional objective of supporting regeneration is not covered by the TSP.

8.21 Evidence - Evidence to support assertions, policy approaches, etc., must be provided.

8.22 “Corporateness / Compatability” – The need to demonstrate that the LTP is a corporate document and is compatible with and supportive of other key strategies within authorities and at local, sub regional, regional and national levels is strongly emphasised.

8.23 Targets – A large number of mandatory target areas are established and in order to obtain a good assessment we need to set “ stretching” targets and at the minimum satisfactory levels of achievement. Targets cannot take account of the contribution of proposed future Major Schemes.

8.24 Funding – The LTP is no longer a bidding document. The programme has to be prepared in line with the spending guidelines set out by DfT. Currently we have provisional guidance for the levels of the Integrated T ransport Block. This will be firmed up in time for the March 2006 submission based on the assessment of our delivery performance and the quality of the LTP. In future, both IntegratedTransport and Maintenance figures will be derived formulaically. For Major Schemes we need to work within the £1billion constraint (no other authorities have this Major Scheme funding level indication).

8.25 Assessment – Three key criteria will be assessed in 2005 and 2006, as follows; -

• Quality of planning (on the provisional LTP, July 2005)

• Impact of LTP Targets (on the final LTP, March 2006)

• Deliverability (on the LTP / APR, July 2006)

DfT currently anticipate that 50% of the marks will be given to the Quality of Planning. This will be assessed against 35 sub-criteria within six groups and a relative score under each will be given. If two or more sub-criteria are marked as “poor”, the group will be marked “poor” and if more than one group is marked “poor”, the whole LTP will be given a “poor” score. The remaining 50% will be assessed on the basis of the final LTP (targets, 30%) and the 2006 APR (deliverability, 20%), taking account of actual delivery during the first LTP period.

Accessibility Planning – This is a new area of work that has to be completed for the March 2006 submission following a very delayed release of the recommended software.

Source Documents

Draft West Midlands Local Transport Plan 2005 Sandwell Draft Transport Vision 2020, published for consultation 2001. Appendix 1 – LTP Achievements and Proposals

West Bromwich

Achievements delivered in the first LTP 2001-2006

Completion of West Bromwich Town Centre Strategy, involving: • Conversion of Ringway to 2-way running (Aug 2001) • Closure and filling in of 3 pedestrian subways, and replacement with pelican crossings • Creation of a section of Ringway for pedestrians and buses only • Pedestrian phases on 5 further signals installed around Ringway • New, award-winning bus station built closer to West Bromwich Central metro stop • Sandwell’s first UTC system, giving late buses priority around Ringway

Bridge Maintenance Strengthening of Trinity Way Bridge

Completion of 404 Bus Showcase Route, involving: • Kassel kerbs at all bus stops • Real-Time Information at selected stops • Improved pedestrian access • Ring and Ride interchange installed near Sandwell General Hospital

Cycle Routes • NCN Route 5 completed in Sandwell Valley

Cycle parking installed at: • West Bromwich town centre • Scott Arms • Carter’s Green • Stone Cross

Proposals for 2005 LTP 2006- 2011

• A41 Expressway Junction Improvements With major redevelopment being proposed in West Bromwich town centre, improvements to the All Saints roundabout are necessary to aid access and help revitalize the economy of the town centre.

• Red Routes Red Route treatment is proposed along the A41 Black Country New Road/Expressway/Birmingham Road, the A34 Birmingham Road/Walsall Road, All Saints Way, Newton Road, Trinity Way, Kenrick Way and Kelvin Way.

• Route 51 Bus Showcase Showcase treatment along the A34 Birmingham Road/Walsall Road in Great Barr.

• Bridge Maintenance The programme of expenditure on assessments, strengthening and maintenance includes Newton Road Railway Bridge.

• Safer Routes to School Schemes are planned in the Greets Green area, in connection with the New Deal for Communities regeneration area.

• Local and Area Safety Schemes One scheme is planned in West Bromwich Sections of cycle network for;

West Bromwich /Hill Top

West Bromwich /Hateley Heath

West Bromwich /Newton Road

Improved pedestrian footways and crossings for the A41 Black Country New Road

Cycle route improvements for National Cycle Network Route 5 Yew Tree to Tamebridge

Oldbury

Achievements delivered in first LTP 2001-2006

Oldbury Civic Square Phase 1 of work to create Sandwell’s first town square has been completed. As well as providing a pleasant pedestrian area around the war memorial, Oldbury bus station has been replaced by a new bus mall on Halesowen Street.

Bridge Maintenance Stone Street canal bridge reconstructed

Completion of 404 Bus Showcase Route, involving: • works on Halesowen Street and Church Street in Oldbury town centre • Kassel kerbs on all stops along the A4034 • Real-Time Information at selected stops • Bus detection at signal junctions • Improved pedestrian access • Kassel kerbs at stops on Hagley Road Showcase route

Rowley Regis Station Park and Ride car park • Was usually full, but now doubled in size with an extra 190 spaces

Hagley Road (West) Bus Showcase • Showcase treatment along the A456 Hagley Road West.

• –Area-wide Local Safety Scheme • The first one in Sandwell is complete in Brandhall. In partnership with the Health Authority, local police and the chosen school, it was implemented in combination with a Safer Routes to School scheme.

Local and Area Safety Schemes • Schemes have been completed in Oldbury.

Cycle Network Route Londonderry/Brandhall/Quinton Completed

Cycle parking installed at: • Oldbury town centre • Quinton

Proposals for 2005 LTP 2006 to 2011

A4123 Road/Pound Road Junction Improvement A4123 Wolverhampton Road/Queensway Junction Improvement

• Junction improvements along the A4123 strategic route to improve safety and increase capacity.

Red Routes • Red Route treatment is proposed along the strategic A4123 and A457 routes.

Route 87 Bus Showcase • Showcase treatment along Route 87 (Birmingham to ) which traverses Tividale and central Oldbury.

Bridge Maintenance • The programme of expenditure on assessments, strengthening and maintenance includes Brades Hall Bridge.

Rowley Regis

Achievements delivered in first LTP 2001-2006

Cradley Heath Town Centre Strategy The construction of Cradley Heath Bypass and associated environmental improvements in High Street, Cradley Heath started in late 2004, with construction expected to take 15 months.

Blackheath Town Centre Strategy Building the final eastern section of the bypass will remove through traffic from the retail core, enabling traffic management measures and improved public transport interchange to reduce congestion, pedestrian / vehicle conflict and poor public transport reliability. The bypass works started in late 2004 and will finish in late 2005. Works in the town centre will follow completion of the bypass.

404 Bus Showcase Route • Alternate services are now extended to Cradley Heath rail station

139 Bus Showcase Route • upgraded stops on Cradley Heath High Street installed • pelican crossing installed on Forge Lane, outside Cradley Heath rail station • stop improvements on Halesowen Road

Local and Area Safety Schemes Schemes have been completed in Rowley Regis.

Cycle access improvement to Dudley No2 Canal at Doulton Road

Cycle parking installed at: • Blackheath • Cradley Heath • Old Hill

Proposals for the 2005 LTP 2006 -2011

A4100 Reddal Hill Road / Highgate Street / Garratts Lane Improvement The West Midlands Area Multi-Modal Study highlighted the need to regenerate this locality by addressing the A4100 problems of on-street parking, poor highway alignment and general congestion for lorries and buses. The scheme consists of link and junction improvements.

Forge Lane / Lower High Street Junction Improvement, Cradley Heath This junction, forming a major gateway into the borough, suffers from poor visibility and substandard road geometry, leading to road safety problems and poor access for industrial traffic. Improvements to the highway alignment and the installation of traffic signal control will help alleviate these problems.

Bus Showcase ‘Spurs’ – Routes 140 and 417 Bus Showcase treatment is proposed along Route 140 (Bearwood to Dudley via Blackheath) and Route 417 (Hayley Green to West Bromwich via Blackheath).

Sandwell Cycle Routes linking Blackheath,Old Hill and Cradley Heath

Smethwick

Achievements delivered in the first LTP 2001-2006

Outer Circle (Route 11) Bus Showcase • The Bus Route 11 which passes through Bearwood has been given Showcase treatment.

Refurbishment of Bearwood Bus Station including improved lighting, CCTV and help point.

Bridge Maintenance General strengthening Soho Street Bridge.Woodburn Road Bridge, • to accommodate 44t HGVs, but Rabone Lane and Spon Lane South rail bridge particularly important

Safer Routes to School Schemes have been completed in the Abbey/Bristnall and Devonshire Road areas.

Local and Area Safety Schemes Schemes have been completed in .

Sandwell Cycle Network Route West Smethwick to Londonderry Cycle parking installed in: • Cape Hill • Smethwick High Street •

Proposals for the 2005 LTP 2006 - 2011

North Smethwick Access Improvements Options to provide improved access to aid regeneration are being investigated jointly with Regenco.

A457 Soho Way Safety Scheme A major safety scheme is proposed to improve an accident blackspot that has claimed a number of fatalities. The work will improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users, as well as general traffic, and will provide a new gateway entrance into the North Smethwick Regeneration Area.

Red Routes Red Route treatment is proposed along Oldbury Road, Tollhouse Way, Soho Way, Grove Lane, Telford Way and Kenrick Way.

Route 87 Bus Showcase Showcase treatment is proposed along Route 87 (Birmingham to Dudley) which traverses Smethwick and Cape Hill.

Smethwick High Street To help solve the accident and congestion problems, a one-way system is proposed with a contra-flow bus / cycle lane. There will also be better integration of bus services with pedestrian improvements and parking restrictions.

Bridge Maintenance The programme of expenditure on assessments, strengthening and maintenance includes Brasshouse Lane (North) Bridge and Popes Bridge,

Sandwell Cycle Route Londonderry to Smethwick and Londonderry to Cape Hill.

Tipton

Achievements delivered in the first LTP 2001-2006

Route 311 Bus Showcase The Route 311 (Stourbridge to Walsall via Tipton and Wednesbury) has been given Showcase treatment.

Bridge Maintenance Strengthening works carried out on Owen Street Canal Bridge to prepare for the works on the level crossing relief road scheme

Safer Routes to School Scheme installed outside St. Martin’s Primary School, Lower Church Lane

Local and Area Safety Schemes Schemes have been completed in Tipton.

Cycle parking installed at: • Great Bridge • Owen Street • Princes End

Proposals for the 2005 LTP 2006-2011

Owen Street Level Crossing Relief Road The barriers at Owen Street level crossing can be down for 40 minutes in an hour, causing lengthy traffic queues, air pollution and noise problems in the local shopping centre, so affecting its viability. This major highway scheme will help solve these problems. It consists of a new link road between Owen Street and Alexandra Road via a tunnel beneath the West Coast Main Line railway.

Great Bridge Junction Improvements Improvements are required to aid access to industrial sites, but no scheme is programmed at the moment.

Burnt Tree Island Improvements are proposed to aid all modes, including pedestrians, cyclists, vulnerable users and industrial traffic. The improvements will be of particular benefit to the numerous bus services (including potential Showcase routes) which use the junction.

Red Routes Red Route treatment is proposed along Sedgley Road West/East and the A461 between Burnt Tree and Great Bridge.

Bus Showcase Route 313 Route 313 (Dudley to Walsall) is to receive Showcase treatment.

Midland Metro Complementary Measures On-street traffic and road safety measures in the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill corridor will complement the metro proposals.

New footways and improved pedestrian access across the A41 Black Country New Road.

Cycle parking at leisure centres

Bridge Maintenance The programme of expenditure on assessments, strengthening and maintenance includes New Road Rail Bridge. Bridge reconstruction associated with the Midland Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill is likely to include the railway bridges at Horseley Road, Lower Church Lane and Park Lane East.

Wednesbury

Achievements delivered in first LTP 2001-2006 New , comprising; • Ten modern bus stands designed for easier access • Closed Circuit Television • Toilet facilities • Improved lighting • Better timetable information • Sheltered walkways • Ring and Ride facilities • Cycle facilities

Midland Metro • Park and Ride car parks installed at Wednesbury Parkway (161 spaces) and Black Lake (81 spaces)

Route 311 Bus Showcase The Route 311 (Stourbridge to Walsall via Tipton and Wednesbury) has been given Showcase treatment. Wood Green Road is yet to be completed.

Safer Routes to School Numerous schools throughout Wednesbury have been part of this project.

Local and Area Safety Schemes Schemes have been completed in Wednesbury.

Cycle Routes • 700m section of Sandwell Cycle Network completed along the Tame Valley Canal between Crankhall Lane and Hydes Road

Cycle parking installed in: • Wednesbury town centre

Proposals for the 2005 LTP 2006-2011

Midland Metro Complementary Measures On-street traffic and road safety measures in the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill corridor will complement the metro proposals.

Red Routes Red Route treatment is proposed along Black Country New Road.

Bus Showcase Route 313 Route 313 (Dudley to Walsall) is to receive Showcase treatment.

Bridge Maintenance Assessment and strengthening is programmed for Hydes Road Railway Bridge, and Lower High Street bridge (potentially a Metro bridge).