|
answer text |
<p>The Government is investing heavily in better transport infrastructure for the
West Midlands.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed around £115 million to two ‘large local
major’ schemes, which are now under construction – the A4440 Worcester Southern Relief
Road (Carrington Bridge) and the Birmingham Centenary Square tram extension - with
more than £400m committed to a further nine road and public transport schemes in the
West Midlands.</p><p>HS2 is already playing a huge part of the Midlands’ success story,
with work well under way at over 60 sites including major development at Curzon Street
and Washwood Heath. It will put Birmingham at the heart of Britain’s new high speed
network, including two stations within the Birmingham area.</p><p> </p><p>We have
allocated £321.5m from the Transforming Cities Fund to West Midlands Combined Authority
who are using it to build the Brierley Hill tram extension.</p><p> </p><p>On the strategic
road network, Highways England has just started construction on widening the A500
Etruria Valley, a £17.5m investment.</p><p>In Rail Control Period 5, we funded a number
of schemes in the West Midlands, including the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street,
upgrade and electrification of the Chase Line, and extension of the Cross City Line
from Longbridge to Bromsgrove.</p><p> </p><p>We also provided £5m to Midlands Connect
to develop a strategic outline business case for the Midlands Rail Hub programme.
We expect this to be submitted to the Department in June 2019.</p><p> </p><p>In November
2018, the Infrastructure and Pipeline Authority published their Analysis of the National
Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline. The regional analysis of the pipeline shows
that over the period of 2018/19 - 2020/21, the West Midlands will receive £255 per
person on average each year of planned central government transport investment, which
is the 4th highest of the 9 regions and ahead of London.</p>
|
|