Birmingham Connected bulletin - 20 November 2020

Active Travel Funding, Dudley Road improvements consultation and city centre updates

Active Travel Funding

The West Midlands will receive a further £13m from the Government's Active Travel Fund to deliver more improvements for walking and cycling across the region.

In Birmingham, this means we can further build on projects already delivered and develop some additional measures.

This week we have launched a review of all the Emergency Transport Plan schemes delivered so far.


Dudley Road transport improvements

We are planning to improve the A457 Dudley Road to upgrade facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, provide new bus lanes and reduce traffic congestion through junctions.

This is a revised scheme for the Dudley Road, following public feedback, and supports the principles set out in the Emergency Birmingham Transport Plan.

Find out more and have your say before the consultation closes on 15 December 2020.


City centre updates

Footway widening

We are widening pavements in the Colmore and Retail Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), to help businesses and enable social distancing.

Space is being re-allocated from the carriageway to the footway on Temple Row, Temple Row West, Edmund Street and Church Street.

Temple Row West will be made one-way from 23 November, with the direction of traffic reversing on Waterloo Street, meaning that vehicles can travel from Colmore Row along Temple Row West and Waterloo Street, and must use Waterloo Street/Bennetts Hill to access Newhall Street.

St Chads bus gate

Following feedback, we have reviewed the situation around St Chads where we had implemented some changes to traffic movements, as part of the city centre segments. As a result, we have temporarily suspended the bus gate while we develop a revised scheme to address the identified issues and support the bus gate's operation.

Moor Street Queensway bus gate

The Moor Street Queensway bus gate has now been installed. This prevents general traffic from travelling between Moor Street Station and Carrs Lane in either direction. Buses, cyclists and hackney carriages are permitted.

To access Moor Street car parks, drivers should approach from Digbeth.


Selly Oak New Road

From 23 November, Chapel Lane on the Selly Oak triangle will be a two way road with a speed limit of 20mph. Please take care as you get used to the new arrangement. Read more about the Selly Oak New Road scheme.


Walking and Cycling motivation!

If you’re looking for incentives to get out on your bike during December, take a look at the Love to Ride West Midlands site where there are prizes to be won every day between 1 and 25 December for any rides you log.

West Midlands Combined Authority are holding walking and cycling webinars on 26 November and 3 December with tips and information to help motivate us all to walk and cycle more through the current lockdown and beyond.

If you've not managed to get one of the hugely popular Government ‘fix your bike’ £50 vouchers, keep an eye on the website as further releases are expected soon, at a point when sufficient bike shops are able to be open.

Under the current lockdown, you can keep cycling and being active, you just need to follow a few rules to keep safe. Cycling UK and British Cycling have all the latest guidance on their websites.


Travel advice

Many university students are likely to be travelling home in early December. If there is also a lifting of lockdown on 2 December, we expect the transport network to be especially busy on the weekends in December, and urge people to avoid making unnecessary trips.

For local trips, walking and cycling are the best ways to travel. Public transport continues to be available, and with regular cleaning and mandatory face coverings, operators are doing everything possible to keep you safe.

If you're now a semi-regular user of public transport, flexible season tickets from National Express West Midlands and West Midlands Railway might be the cheapest option.


Are you ready for Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone?

From 1 June 2021 the owners of the most polluting vehicles will need to pay a daily charge to drive into Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. Visit the BrumBreathes website to check your vehicle and find information about the CAZ, including exemptions and financial incentives.

Many Birmingham organisations are already taking action to reduce air pollution and the efforts of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce were recently recognised at the 2020 National Modeshift Sustainable Travel Awards.

If your workplace would like to take part (for free) in the Modeshift travel planning and accreditation scheme, register online and contact us for support: connected@birmingham.gov.uk.

School Clean Air Cops school webinar

We will be hosting a training webinar at 3.30pm on Wednesday 9 December, for schools interested in using our Clean Air Cops books and teaching resources. To register, please email connected@birmingham.gov.uk.


Have your say

Managing pavement parking – consultation closes 22 November

Dudley Road transport improvements – consultation closes 15 December


Dates for the diary

16 to 20 November – UK Road Safety Week: No Need to Speed.

9 December – Clean Air Cops training webinar for schools; email connected@birmingham.gov.uk to register.

13 January – Getting started with Modeshift STARS webinar for schools; email connected@birmingham.gov.uk to register.

Article posted on 20 November 2020.

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