“Whose road is it anyway? The future picture for highways

authorities”

LGA Conference, London – 28/02/2018

Adam Harrison, TfWM

Our Key Route Network (KRN)

Tackling Challenges & Issues

Future & Where we go next?

About WMCA

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)

• Created in July 2016 to lead strategic planning and economicdevelopment

• Ensure investment benefits spread across area but not at thesame time

• Tackle the long term challenges faced by all local authoritiesand recognised as priorities for the region:

• Skills and Productivity

• Transport

• Housing and Land

• Public sector reform

• Led: Mayor of the West Midlands – Andy Street

Devolution Deal 1 & 2

The Mayor: Responsibilities

• Economic growth

• Transport

• Housing

• Skills and jobs

Transport Priorities

• Busting Congestion

• Making buses clean, safe and fast

• Supercharging cycling and walking

• Getting a grip of air pollution

Mayoral Powers: Network Management Powers

The Mayor has regional concurrent powers for:

• Bus lane contraventions

• Permit schemes

• Road safety

• Air quality

Collaboration with local authorities and WMCA is key to benefitting all stakeholders

The WMCA collaborates with DfT, Highways England & Midlands Connect on links to Strategic Road Network

MAXIMISE FLOWS MINIMISE CONGESTION

IMPROVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

WMCA is not a Highway Authority

Our KRN

Tackling KRN Challenges & Issues

Future & Where we go next?

About WMCA

West Midlands Key Route Network• 23 Routes

• 605 km of roads

• 50% traffic volume in WM

• 7% of no all roads in WM

• Not only local routes

• Major roads linking North to South

Our Key Route Network (KRN)

Tackling KRN Challenges & Issues

Future & Where we go next?

About WMCA

Issues and Challenges - Everyone wants different things….

Buses - Reliable, quick journeys, well located stops

Pedestrians - Safe pleasant streets with good convenient crossings, places to sit, access to services

Bikes - To feel safe and have permeable cycle friendly streets with secure parking

Deliveries - Reliable, quick journeys, as well as places to load/unload

Taxis - Reliable, journeys & convenient stands & ranks

Coaches - Access to the strategic centres and places to park

Cars - Reliable, quick journeys with minimal disruption & to be informed about what’s going on

Freight – Reliable easy access to business & avoiding conflict with other users

Emergencies – Access incidents quickly & have access to all roads

Powered two-wheelers -Smooth safe roads with good parking

Issues and Challenges - Growth

Population

• Forecast to grow by 444,000 people by 2035 (Bristol, Liverpool)

Growth

• 215,000 new homes by 2031

Congestion

• Disruption caused by congestion, major incidents and ongoingmaintenance works i.e. M6/M5 viaduct and M6 J10

Air Quality

• Health inequality across different local authority regions

• 1500 premature deaths due to air pollution each year

Issues and Challenges - Network Resilience• Delivery over 10 years

• Investment in region at its highest in decades

• Brings many challenges….

• Economy: Skills and employment in region

• Strategic re-routing and planning during construction of infrastructure for:

HS2

Commonwealth games

Introduction of smart motorways

Improved integrated transport projects

Our Key Route Network (KRN)

Tackling KRN Challenges & Issues

Future & Where we go next?

About WMCA

Commonwealth Games

• Maintaining vibrant, successful city

• Leaving fantastic legacy for Birmingham and

West Midlands

• Major role for KRN – Driver for Change?

Integrated Transport

• Compliments Commonwealth Games, HS2 andother demands on KRN

• Reduce congestion & air pollution

• This may be achieved by:

Further park and ride introduction

Bikehire scheme – Bikehire WM

The use of apps (such as Whim) to makebetter informed journey decisions

Transport Space Reallocation

Demand Management

Congestion/WPL/CAZ charging

CAV & Innovation

• The introduction of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles will present significant opportunities for the KRN and its management

• CAVs are already being trialled in many West Midlands

• It is important that our KRN:

Considers how to accommodate increased usage of CAVs

Introduces transport connectivity hubs

Adapts to shift towards electric and hydrogen vehicles: Charging stations

Future Devolution

• Mayoral WMCA needs more flexibility and funding control to deliver KRN investment programme

• Further Road Powers – to tackle disruptions and enforce local Moving Traffic Offences

- Could Mayoral WMCA become a highways authority?

- But would this be at the expense of Authorities and would it benefit people/road users?

• Plans need to be evidenced led - with political will

• Call for a 5 Year road investment programme (all Roads) Allowing better investment and maintenance decisions

• Close alignment with RIS2 & new MRN

Adam Harrison BSc (Hons), MScTransport for West Midlands

Principal Transport Strategy Officer

Email: adam.harrison@tfwm.org.ukTel: 0121 214 7316