Proposed new bus scheme to serve key route in Birmingham set to be backed

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Board are to discuss the £15.5 million Cross City Bus Package 6 West scheme.

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This programme is aimed at creating bus priority measures between Birmingham City Centre and West Bromwich, supporting the Number 74 service.

The aim of Cross City Bus schemes are to journey times and reliability by enabling services to bypass congestion on busy routes. There are a total of six proposed for the city.

Members of the Investment Board will be asked to approve the business case and total budget of £15.597 million for this scheme.

If the whole project is approved, construction work is expected to start in August and be completed by June next year.

A report to the Board said: “Cross City Bus is a programme for the delivery of bus priority measures within the West Midlands region, being delivered as part of the Bus Priority Programme.

“Package 6 West provides bus priority measures between Birmingham city centre and West Bromwich to support bus service 74 which operates along this corridor.

“This will lead to improved bus journey times and improved journey time reliability.

“It will link with Package 6 East, currently also preparing for delivery, to provide new Cross City bus services increasing journey opportunities and destination accessibility across the region.

“The A41 Soho Road, a key local centre is also part of the West Midlands Key Route Network and is a major link between Birmingham, West Bromwich and the wider Black Country.

“The proposed scheme for the A41 corridor aims to improve bus journey times and reliability and encourage modal shift away from private vehicles to more sustainable modes of travel.

“This will support enhanced connectivity and accessibility by public transport which is crucial to reducing congestion, air pollution and encouraging more sustainable and healthier lifestyles.

“The scheme aims to reduce bus journey time by at least two minutes with at least a five per cent increase in bus patronage and a two per cent increase in passenger satisfaction with the upgraded facilities.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Board will meet on Monday, March 23, to discuss the proposal.