Birmingham's Transport Vision

More than £800 million of work to transform the way people travel into and around Birmingham city centre is underway just 12 months after the launch of a compelling transport vision.

Leading members in the city have outlined the progress achieved since they unveiled their Vision for Movement blueprint exactly one year ago to help economic regeneration and cement Birmingham’s future as a vibrant, global city.

More than 100 key figures from the city’s business community attended the Vision for Movement – One Year On briefing at the Council House to hear how the last 12 months had seen several of the Vision’s high profile projects forge ahead.

These include a £65 million runway extension at Birmingham Airport, a £127 million extension of the Midland Metro tram through the heart of the city’s shopping district and the £600 million Gateway redevelopment of New Street Station. Planning and design work is also progressing on an £11 million rapid transit system known as Sprint, running between Five Ways and Walsall.

Construction work is also set to start on two other key schemes. The first is a £14 million reorganisation of the city’s bus services which will see stops being moved from early in the New Year to allow the construction of six new passengers interchanges. All buses will then come out of Corporation Street next summer paving the way for work on the Metro extension.

The other key scheme is a £3 million project called Birmingham Interconnect which features new direction signs and information points featuring maps and public transport details. The project is designed to make it easier and clearer for both visitors and residents to find their way around the city to major attractions and destinations.

All of the projects have been earmarked for completion by 2015 under Vision for Movement, a collaboration between the city’s business community, through its Business Improvement Districts (BID’s), Birmingham City Council, transport authority Centro and National Express West Midlands.

Its goal is to lay the foundations for a comprehensive network of rapid transit, bus, rail, cycling and walking routes considered essential in supporting the city’s economy.