Birmingham City Council has updated its transport investment priorities for the next six years, with a focus on making roads safer, improving public transport, and encouraging walking and cycling.
The Transport and Highways Delivery Programme update, going to cabinet on 8 September, supports delivery of the Birmingham Transport Plan. It recognises that a prosperous, inclusive and healthy city requires reduced reliance on private cars and a change to the way people and goods move around.
New ward-level funding
The programme includes the new Healthy Streets Ward Fund, providing just over £15m across Birmingham's wards to support local delivery of the council's Road Harm Reduction Strategy. This is the highest level of funding ever allocated to ward-level transport projects. Councillors will play a crucial role in directing how and where this money is spent.
Funding sources
Most of the funding for transport projects is supplied by central government, via West Midlands Combined Authority. This is topped up by net surplus revenue from the Clean Air Zone and enforcement of bus lanes.
Council priorities
Councillor Rob Grant, Cabinet Member for Transport, said the investment includes local neighbourhood schemes, bus priority measures, safe cycling infrastructure and additional enforcement to tackle dangerous driving behaviours.
He added that addressing transport's impact on carbon emissions, climate change and air quality is vital, particularly for the third of Birmingham households who do not have a car.
