SILHILLIANS are being asked to give their views on a transport blueprint that will see £3.4 billion of tram extensions, new suburban rail lines, cycle routes and motorway improvements built over the coming decade.
The 2026 Draft Delivery Plan sets out a timetable for the construction of schemes the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) believes can best unlock economic growth and capitalise on the arrival of the HS2 high speed rail line.
Schemes include Midland Metro tram extensions in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, new rail infrastructure to open up new passenger lines and improve local services, improvements to key motorway and road junctions and more cycle routes.
In addition to the £3.4 billion package set out in the plan, a number of further transport schemes are included and funding for these additional schemes will be sought over the timeframe.
A six-week public consultation on the plan, which has been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – the transport arm of the WMCA – has now been launched.
Members of the public, the business community and other sectors are being encouraged to have their say by visiting https://www.tfwm.org.uk/events/draft-2026-delivery-plan-for-transport/ People have until June 9 to comment.
Laura Shoaf, managing director of TfWM, said: “This plan aims to prioritise the building of those schemes that can best underpin and support the WMCA’s wider goals for economic growth, housing and skills.
“It’s about which schemes should be built and when, so that we secure the biggest bang for our buck and have the right transport infrastructure in place to maximize the already significant economic benefits of HS2.
“This blueprint therefore has a key role to play in the future prosperity of our region which is why I would encourage people to take this opportunity to have their say.”
The draft 2026 Delivery Plan is the initial 10-year programme for the WMCA’s longer-term strategic transport plan ‘Movement for Growth which sets out a 20-year vision and overall strategic approach to improving the regional network.
The strategic programme of schemes is divided into three sections:
· £3.4bn worth of committed schemes which are wholly or substantially funded
· A pool of potential schemes for which funding will be sought
· A set of longer term studies and project proposals.
Schemes to be built over the coming decade include:
Solihull:
Extending the Midland Metro tram system from Digbeth, through north Solihull to the airport/HS2 Interchange.
Improvements to M42 Junction 6 so that it is ready for HS2 and the UK Central development.
Improved transport connections between Blythe Valley Business Park, Solihull town centre and the airport/HS2 Interchange station.
New cycle routes.
Birmingham:
Extending the Metro tram system to the Birmingham Curzon HS2 station in Eastside and on through Digbeth and north Solihull to the airport/HS2 Interchange.
Extending the Metro to Centenary Square (2019) and along Broad Street to Edgbaston (2020-21).
Improved road junctions at traffic jam hot spots.
New cycle routes.
The Camp Hill Chords project to open up new suburban rail lines and stations for northern suburbs like Castle Vale and Castle Bromwich and Moseley and Kings Heath in the south.
Coventry:
A redeveloped Coventry railway station.
Improvements to bottleneck road junctions and new Key Route Network through Coventry.
Major improvements to the M6 and A46.
New cycle routes.
Dudley and Sandwell:
Midland Metro tram route between Brierley Hill, Dudley and Wednesbury connecting to the existing line to Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
Improved M5/M6 motorway junctions.
Smart motorways.
New cycle routes.
Walsall:
New cycle routes.
Improvements to junctions on the M6.
New heavy rail connection to Wolverhampton, with new stations at Willenhall and James Bridge.
Wolverhampton:
Metro tram extension along Pipers Row stopping at the bus station and the new Wolverhampton Interchange.
Improved transport connections to the i54.
New heavy rail connection to Walsall, with new stations at Willenhall and James Bridge.
Improvements to junctions on the M6.
New cycle routes.
