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. Current Developments in the West Midlands An Overview Geoff Inskip Chief Executive Centro. The West Midlands Metropolitan Area 2.6 m population Distinct sub-regions: - Birmingham/Solihull, - The Black Country, - Coventry Industrial legacy “The workshop of the world”
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. Current Developments in the West Midlands • An Overview Geoff Inskip Chief Executive Centro
The West Midlands Metropolitan Area • 2.6 m population • Distinct sub-regions: - Birmingham/Solihull, - The Black Country, - Coventry • Industrial legacy “The workshop of the world” • “Cross-roads of the UK” Challenges • Skills • £15bn Regional GVA productivity gap with UK average • Jobs • global economy jobs, fit for the future. Region’s unemployment rate currently 9% • Connectivity to jobs and to skills • Homes • Circa 160,000 net new homes in the Metropolitan area by 2026 • Carbon • 80% reduction in UK greenhouse gas by 2050; 34% reduction by 2020
Public transport in the West Midlands • 347 m passenger journeys 2010/11 • 50+% public transport modal share to centres • 90% bus services commercial • 10% bus services subsidised – contracts with Centro • National Express operates 77% of bus service kms • Suburban rail services – renewal in 2015 • Light rail – 23 year concession with Centro • Network Rail – rail infrastructure • Highways Agency – motorways • Local councils – highway authorities and land use planning authorities
Strong links with land use planning World Class Transport Package • Effective governance • Strong links with land use planning • Clear plans, sustained commitment • Clear roles for public, private and voluntary sectors • Integrated hierarchical public transport
Connectivity to Jobs (2)- Existing Vision agglomeration benefits
Transport Strategy Promote low carbon, economic growth: • “Smart routes” – Strategic Highway Network/Principal Bus Corridors • Increased public transport capacity –Hierarchical public transport system • Enhanced local walking, cycling • Smarter Choices
Strategic Public Transport Issues : • HS2 release of “classic network” capacity • Increasing suburban rail capacity/ • Rapid transit network development/land use planning • Bus network quality/ effectiveness • Park and ride capacity • Integrated Smart ticketing - Swift
Centro’s Transport Package • HS2 Connectivity • Promoting Economic Growth through Rail Connectivity • Strategic Freight Network • Access to Growth
Concluding Remarks A clear transport strategy with focus on its delivery Support low carbon economic development and regeneration of the West Midlands • Geoff Inskip • Chief Executive, Centro