Latest news with #WestMidlandsCombinedAuthority
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Change to service could help slash 'astronomical' transport bills for West Midlands councils
Calls have been made for a lifeline service to be used to help West Midlands councils reduce "astronomical" transport bills they face every year. Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority's Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed proposals for transforming the region's Ring & Ride service. This includes moving to a new operating model and increasing fares for the first time since April 2017. READ MORE: Major change to the price of bus passes and fares coming in the West Midlands - this is when But committee member Councillor Robert Alden said one way of providing a more comprehensive Ring and Ride service would be for it to pick up some Home to School Transport trips. As well as boosting the service, he said it would also ease the financial burden faced by local authorities across the West Midlands. Demand for Ring and Ride services is growing steadily with figures showing 2,487 unique customers have taken a trip in the last six months. Bosses said the last week of March was the busiest since the start of 2020 when the service was hit by Covid-19. The authority still provides a subsidy of £6.467 million per year to run the service but this is a far cry from 2010/11 when its budget was around £12 million. A report to the committee said fare income brings in around £250,000 per year and this is reinvested into the service. Are car headlights too bright? Councillor Alden said: "All of our councils have huge Home to School Transport bills that place significant financial pressures and cost astronomical amounts. "There must be a way to operate this service that also picks up some of that Home To School Transport services across the region so there can be cross subsidisation. "Councils can make a saving on their budget and can also help underpin the finances of Ring and Ride and allow for a more comprehensive service across the region that helps everyone." Catherine Moore, Ring & Ride and Demand Responsive Transport Manager, said: "We have explored this. "We will continue to explore it but the problem is the times don't always work when the Ring and Ride wish to travel and the Home to School Transport children. "We have explored these conversations and we actually feel there might be some benefit from the Community Transport side we could perhaps further develop over the next few years."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fare increases planned for Ring and Ride buses
Fares for the region's Ring and Ride services are set to increase for the first time in eight years due to cost pressures. Charges for a single trip would rise from £1.30 to £2 if the plans are approved by West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) board later this month. Board members are also expected to award contracts to operators which will guarantee the service for a minimum of five years from 1 December. Demand for Ring and Ride services has grown steadily, according to WMCA figures which show 2,487 people have taken a trip in the last six months. Bosses said the last week of March was the busiest since the start of 2020, when the service was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The authority currently provides a subsidy of nearly £6.5m per year to run the service but this is almost half the figure from 2010/11 when its budget was around £12 million. A WMCA report said income from fares brought in about £250,000 per year and that this was reinvested into the service. Despite rises in inflation, charges have remained the same since April 2017. The fees are much lower than the region's fixed route bus network – which will see fares increased further later this month – which has led to concerns people who do not need Ring and Ride might attempt to switch to it. "Fares are now significantly lower than the standard single bus fares despite the significantly higher level of customer service," the report said. "The current scenario could also potentially drive people who don't need this service to switch to it rather than using fixed route bus. "Without any fares adjustments the service will become increasingly unsustainable and place further pressure on the transport levy." If approved, the new Ring and Ride fare structure would be: £2 – Registered user aged 16+ / essential escort carer (up from £1.30) £1 – Registered user aged 5-15 (up from 65p) £2 – Adult travelling with registered user (down from £2.40) £1 – Child travelling with a registered user (up from 65p) Children under the age of 5 will still travel for free This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Hundreds of jobs saved at Ring and Ride service Strategy to improve bus network could cost £44m 'Ghost buses' and cut services: Passengers complain as bus cap rises WMCA Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Combined authority's CEO steps down from role
The chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is stepping down after four years in the role. Laura Shoaf will remain in the role until 17 June and will continue as chair of Shadow Great British Railways, which was set up last year by the government under its plans to bring the UK's railways back into public ownership. Ms Shoaf said she was "sad" to be leaving the organisation she has been with since its inception, but was confident she was leaving it in good hands. The WMCA said Ed Cox, deputy chief executive, will step up as interim chief while a recruitment process gets under way for a permanent replacement. "I have lived and worked in the West Midlands for over 20 years, and I am proud that I have been able to make a real difference for our residents," Ms Shoaf said. "I will always champion our wonderful region and while I am sad to be leaving the combined authority, I know I am leaving it with people who care passionately about the West Midlands and will continue to see it go from strength to strength." West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said Ms Shoaf had done an "exemplary job for the region" during her time in the job. In 2022, she was honoured with a CBE for services to economic regeneration in the West Midlands. "I want to thank Laura for her decades of service to the West Midlands," the mayor said. "I especially want to recognise the work she has done in my first year to help me embed and deliver my priorities. "I want to wish her every success in the future, especially continuing in her role as Chair of Shadow Great British Railways." This news has been gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Regional authority boss takes rail reform job West Midlands Combined Authority
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Business case approved for city tram extension
A business case for the next phase of extension work to Birmingham's tram system has been approved after councillors heard the line would "unlock" the redevelopment at Birmingham City's new football stadium. West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) bosses said completing sections three and four, between Park Street and Meriden Street, was "crucial" for the Midland Metro line to reach the east of the city and Blues' £3bn Sports Quarter development. The work is part of the Birmingham Eastside Extension project and will also provide a transport link to HS2 at Curzon Street and support regeneration in Digbeth. The first phase was completed in August. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said the importance of the new route went beyond the benefits to Digbeth and was about how the extension could help to "unlock the full potential" of east Birmingham. "The Metro extension has to be a key part of how we drive that change," Cotton added. The WMCA board approved £107m of funding for the second phase of the project, of which West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he had fast-tracked more than £62m to enable the phase to start this year. "This line is about more than transport, it's about connecting people in Birmingham and the Black Country to opportunity. "It's already drawing in major investment and helping to breathe new life into this part of the city centre," he added. However, Parker said the extension had "taken too long". "The sooner we deliver it, the sooner we bring in the jobs, homes and regeneration promised by the Sports Quarter." Blues' proposals include a new 60,000-seater stadium, sports campus of training facilities, a new academy, community pitches as well as leisure, commercial and residential development. Work at the section three site, from Park Street to New Canal Street (Curzon Street Station), cannot begin until 2026 when HS2 hands over the area to Midland Metro. However, transport bosses hope to start the main construction work on section four, New Canal Street to Meriden Street, later this year, with preparatory works already under way. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. First phase of tram extension on track Report highlights 'enormous cost' of Metro expansion 'Significant step forward' for tram extension Metro's £137m extension delayed by HS2 Local Democracy Reporting Service West Midlands Combined Authority HS2
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Midlands bus network to come back under public control
The West Midlands mayor has signed an order that will bring the region's bus network back under public control for the first time in almost 40 for West Midlands (TfWM) will set fares, timetables and routes and award contracts to private were expected to be nine local area franchises and the first public-controlled services were expected in late 2027, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Richard Parker said: "For too long, our buses have been run for private profits, not public good. Today, that changes." He added "a bus network that puts passengers first" and was reliable and affordable would be WMCA said that of 3,600 people who took part in a consultation, including organisations, 75% who expressed a preference backed bringing services under public Friday, the authority said the decision had kick-started the transition process towards franchised services, replacing the private operator-led local area franchises were expected to be rolled out each year from 2027 to 2029, "plus a number of smaller single route contracts to encourage smaller bus operators to bid".The one-off costs of setting up the new operation and designing the network were expected to be £22.5m over three years, the WMCA said. It stated bus depots and a fleet of more than 1,000 buses would be needed – either bought or leased using the authority's transport grants or borrowing through fare income. The private operator-led bus network had struggled with rising costs in recent years and was being "propped up" with £50m a year of taxpayers' money to prevent more services from being cut, the WMCA added that last year an independent audit found through increased competition among operators franchising would offer "better value for money – whatever the level of public funding".Bus strategy and commercial director at operator National Express West Midlands Antony Goozee said it recognised the ambitions of the mayor and WMCA to "significantly invest" and develop an operating model that "maximises value for public investment".He added it was fully committed to working collaboratively to deliver high-quality bus services, "supporting a smooth and effective transition". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
