Birmingham to receive £70 million for cross-city bus routes improvement

Credit: West Midlands Combined Authority

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has announced that four new cross-city bus routes in Birmingham are set to receive £70 million in funding to enhance services, improve reliability and create more attractive travel options for passengers. These routes aim to reduce the need for passengers to change buses, saving them time and providing a smoother commuting experience.

The improvements will include the creation of new bus lanes, adjustments to junctions, traffic signals, parking arrangements and bus stops. These enhancements will allow buses to bypass traffic congestion, ensuring more reliable, regular and predictable journey times. In addition, passengers will benefit from upgraded shelters and improved information systems for a better overall travel experience.

The four planned routes, overseen by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), are as follows:

• Longbridge to Hamstead 
• Longbridge to Castle Vale 
• West Bromwich to Chelmsley Wood 
• Bartley Green to Chelmsley Wood.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of WMCA, said: “Thanks to the £70 million funding award we recently secured, we can further enhance services here in the West Midlands – with a particular focus on reliability so that we can make daily commutes faster and more dependable.”

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Councillor Mike Bird, Portfolio Holder for Transport, said: “The future prosperity of our region will rely to a great extent on efficient public transport. We need to ensure that our communities have seamless access to opportunities and a smoother daily commute. This investment in additional routes across Birmingham is a positive step in the right direction and I welcome it.”

Councillor Liz Clements, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Buses are Birmingham’s mass transit network and they need priority on our roads, so I am delighted funding has been awarded for these four new cross-city bus routes.”

Operators will be invited to run these new cross-city services, making it easier for people to access the expanding city centre and other key locations. This initiative, along with plans for more zero-emission buses, aligns with the region’s goal to become carbon-neutral under the #WM2041 plan within the next two decades.

The £70 million funding is part of the £1.05 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) awarded by the Department for Transport to WMCA. These routes are integral to the region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.