Transport in Walsall 2017-2022
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Transport in Walsall 2017-2022 Transport in Walsall 2017-2022 Foreword Transport in Walsall is the transport ■ Promote public transport, including the strategy for our Borough setting out development of rapid transit routes to other Walsall Council’s vision until 2022. The parts of the Black Country and Birmingham City Centre. strategy describes how, along with our partners, we will deliver that vision. ■ Enhance health and wellbeing within local communities by increasing active travel and The Strategy identifies four objectives, which improving air quality. support the Council’s corporate plan. Transport in Walsall Objectives ■ With fewer resources we will work to make Councillor Lee Jeavons the best use of our existing transport assets. Deputy Leader ■ Support economic growth, with a focus and Portfolio Holder on improving access to new and existing for Regeneration employment sites and managing and improving capacity on our roads. Contents Page Joined-up Thinking 4 Changes in the Black Country 5 Working Together 6-7 Supporting Economic Growth 8-9 Enhancing Rail Services and Investigation of Tram-Train 10 Walking and Cycling 11 Improving Bus Travel 12 Safety on Our Roads 13 Environmental Impacts 14-15 Health and Wellbeing 16 What’s Next? 17 Delivering Major Transport Schemes in Walsall 18 3 Transport in Walsall 2017-2022 Joined-up Thinking There are many local and regional ■ Movement for Growth: The West Midlands strategies which focus on specific areas Strategic Transport Plan, 2016 of transport. ■ Walsall Air Quality Action Plan, 2009 The aim of Transport in Walsall is to bring these ■ Walsall Air Quality Annual Stats Report, 2016 individual strategies together; elements of the following strategies have been included in this ■ Walsall Highway Maintenance Strategy, document. Please refer to relevant strategy for 2015-18 further information. ■ Walsall Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy ■ Black Country Air Quality Supplementary 2013-2016 (including 2014/15 refresh) Planning Document, 2016 ■ Walsall Rights of Way Improvement Plan, ■ Black Country Core Strategy, 2011 2008 ■ Black Country Road Safety Strategy (draft) ■ Walsall Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy, 2017-2022 (draft) ■ Black Country Strategic Economic Plan, 2014 ■ West Midlands Low Emissions Towns and Cities Programme Good Practice Air ■ Black Country Walking & Cycling Strategy & Quality Planning Guidance & Procurement Implementation Plan, 2017 Guidance, 2014 ■ Black Country Ultra Low Emission Vehicle ■ West Midlands Physical Activity Strategy Strategy January, 2017 2017-2030 (draft) ■ Midlands Connect Strategy, 2017 4 Transport in Walsall 2017-2022 Changes in the Black Country Since the last strategy was written the most important of these being a capacity in 2010, the council has successfully enhancement of M6 Junction 10. secured central government funding In addition to the devolved major transport and delivered the £26m Darlaston scheme funding the government has created the Strategic Development Area Access Local Growth Fund (LGF) which pools several Project, which has unlocked several different central government funding streams large employment sites within Darlaston. to create one large fund. LEPs were requested to submit a Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) to During 2011, major changes to the way most the government demonstrating their plans for transport schemes, including ‘major transport investing in transport and numerous other issues schemes’ are funded in England were made. relevant to economic growth, such as developing The government set up Local Enterprise the local skills base, and improving businesses Partnerships (LEPs) which are voluntary access to finance. parxtnerships between local authorities and businesses. LEPs were created to help determine In July 2014 it was announced that the Black local economic priorities and lead economic Country would receive a total of £138.7m, growth and job creation within a local area. including its allocation under the SLGF, to deliver various schemes across the Black Country Walsall Council is part of the Black Country LEP including transport schemes within Walsall. along with the three other Black Country local The key transport schemes which we aim to authorities. Major transport scheme funding deliver in Walsall include M6 Junction 10 and which was previously allocated through a central the Accessing Growth package. In addition to government bidding process has now been the funding secured from the SLGF towards M6 devolved to LEPs so that they can determine Junction 10 improvements, central government their own programme of transport improvements announced in December 2014 that the remaining that is most suited to the needs of that area. monies would be made available to the project as For Walsall this has resulted in support for part of the ‘Road Investment Strategy’ securing a various transport schemes, with arguably total of £65m to enhance the junction. 5 Transport in Walsall 2017-2022 Working Together As well as changes related to the Approved by the WMCA in 2016, Movement for formation of the Black Country LEP, Growth, the West Midlands Strategic Transport there have also been wider changes Plan (STP) sets out the long term approach to guide the necessary improvements required across the West Midlands region and to support the regions economic growth. The central England. Within the conurbation, West Midlands STP has developed three tiers the West Midlands Combined Authority of an integrated transport system; national and (WMCA) was formed. regional, metropolitan and local, all supported by smart mobility initiatives. The WMCA delivered a transformational Devolution Deal to the government, which in May The projects within Transport in Walsall feature 2017 saw a Mayor elected Mayor work further across all the tiers, from national and regional to transform our transportation system. In 2014 improvements with junctions on the motorway the Midlands Connect Partnership was formed, network to developing the metropolitan rail and which covered the whole of the midlands region. rapid transit network and Key Route Network to Midlands Connect is the transport arm of the better connect the conurbation. At a local level Midlands Engine and continues to grow our schemes will aim to make local journeys safer, as economy by better connecting the economic well as more sustainable and active. Transport in hubs in the Midlands to each other, and to Walsall details many of these local level schemes. national and international gateways. Walsall Council’s role as the highway authority In June 2016 the West Midlands Integrated is to promote, deliver and operate the highway Transport Authority and Passenger Transport network effectively for all road users. In order to Executive (Centro) were both dissolved. Transport facilitate this we work closely with TfWM as well is now led by Transport for West Midlands as other partners including, bus operators, train (TfWM), the transport arm of the WMCA. operators, Network Rail, Highways England, Canal & River Trust, and West Midlands Police. The main role of TfWM is to produce transport strategies and policies for the metropolitan area Additionally, we will work to ensure that both the and co-ordinate development of future transport natural and historic environment are maintained projects in line with its strategy. and enhanced throughout the design of all schemes. TfWM also provide public transport information, integrated ticketing, improves, manages and maintains pubic transport infrastructure, and subsidise socially necessary bus services. 6 Transport in Walsall 2017-2022 In the past five years Walsall’s highway In addition to those schemes already completed, network has seen significant investment and other important transport schemes that are improvements made in it. These include: currently underway include: ■ Major investment in the Darlaston and Pleck ■ The electrification of the Walsall to Rugeley areas of the Borough with the completion of Trent Valley rail line will facilitate faster, a £26m worth of highway improvements. greener, quieter and more reliable journeys for passengers, which will also bring the ■ Completion of all Red Routes bringing the potential for services to other key cities Borough’s total to five across the strategic around the country; and, highway network, and two additional bus showcase projects improving key ■ Development of improvements to M6 bus routes; Junction 10 via the widening of the junction’s circulatory and improvements ■ Partnership working with 70 schools to to other immediately adjacent highway encourage uptake of active travel modes infrastructure, so as to increase capacity when travelling to school; and reduce congestion for the benefit of its very high volume of local and ■ Numerous cycle and walking schemes to encourage more people to travel by bike or business users; foot to work, school or for leisure reasons, Looking to the future, the Black Country Growth as well an updated active travel map proving Deal will bring great benefits to the Borough, details of routes across the Borough; including the following: ■ Multiple road safety schemes to improve the ■ The Accessing Growth programme will safety of roads and junctions including the open new sites for employment or enhance introduction of 20mph speed limits within access to larger areas of potential economic some residential areas; and, growth within the Borough, included are ■ Building upon existing civil enforcement junctions along the A461 corridor (Walsall powers,