Vision for Movement – one year on

A group of city partners, Centro, Birmingham City Council, National Express West Midlands, and the city centre’s four BIDs, launched a strategic plan – the Vision for Movement – a year ago in November 2010 to generate some ‘joined up’ thinking for getting around the city centre. On Wednesday morning, Nov 9, more than 100 key figures from the city’s business community attended the ‘Vision for Movement – One Year On’ briefing to hear how the last 12 months have seen high profile transport projects forge ahead. Two of your committee members were amongst this select gathering.

The projects being described include the £65 million runway extension at Birmingham Airport, a £127 million extension of the Midland Metro tram through the heart of the city centre and the £600 million Gateway redevelopment of New Street Station. Centro also reported that planning and design work is progressing on an £11million rapid transit system, known as Birmingham Sprint, running from Five Ways to Walsall along Broad Street. The photo shows an example of the kind of vehicle that will provide this service.

Other schemes include 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 passenger interchanges. A £3million project called Birmingham Interconnect will  provide new direction signs and information points featuring maps and public transport details.

All of these projects have been earmarked for completion by 2015.

The impact at street level has, so far, been restricted to the immediate area around New Street station though there have been overnight works in the Moor Street area. Next year we will see more impact on our daily lives in a wider area of the city centre. The Forum will try to keep you informed of the works so that you can adjust your travel plans to cope with the inevitable disruption in a sensible manner.