Decision details

The board considered a report from the Director of Programme Development & Delivery seeking the approval of the Full Business Cases of the A34 Walsall - Birmingham and A45 Birmingham - Airport & Solihull Sprint schemes for consideration and full approval by the WMCA Board at its meeting on 14 February.

The two schemes were intended to provide a major uplift in public transport provision, linking key residential and employment destinations and supporting the Commonwealth Games 2022 by improving access to Alexander Stadium, the athletes’ village in Perry Barr, Birmingham Airport and the NEC. Both schemes were included within the West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan and supporting the key strategic aim of improving connectivity.

Whilst supporting the proposals, members of the board were keen to ensure that there was a clear confirmation of the intent to deliver both phases of the schemes, and that the operator of the Sprint services would purchase zero-emission articulated vehicles to run on the routes. Commitments to these issues would ensure that residents within Solihull and Walsall would receive the full benefits of Sprint services within their communities.

Resolved:

(1)       The A34 Walsall - Birmingham and A45 Birmingham - Airport & Solihull Full Business Cases, detailing the first stage of delivery for 2022, including bus priority interventions, signal upgrades, shelter enhancements, ticket machines, utility diversions, and resurfacing, be endorsed for consideration and full approval by the WMCA Board.

(2)       The recommendation that WMCA Board approve the Investment Programme allocation for the delivery of the A34 Walsall - Birmingham and A45 Birmingham - Airport & Solihull Sprint schemes, as detailed in the report, be supported.

(3)       Resolutions (1) and (2) above be only approved subject to assurances being provided to the WMCA Board prior to 14 February 2020 as follows:

(a)       confirmation of the intent to fully deliver both phase 1 and phase 2 of the schemes, so as to maximise the full benefits of these Sprint schemes to residents within Solihull and Walsall; and

(b)       confirmation that the operator of the Sprint services would purchase zero-emission articulated vehicles to run on the routes so as to maximise the benefits to passengers of Sprint.

(4)       It be noted that no contracts or financial liabilities would be committed until all necessary funding agreements were executed.

(5)       The delivery of the second stage of A34 Walsall - Birmingham and A45 Birmingham - Airport & Solihull Sprint schemes when further funding was available and allocated be supported.

(6)       The submission of the A45 Birmingham - Airport & Solihull Sprint Full Business Case to the Department for Transport be endorsed.

(7)       It be noted that as construction and utility costs for the scheme were not yet finalised, the project team might need to flexibly manage the scope of the scheme in order to maintain the overall budget, which would be managed in a way that ensured the benefits were not materially affected and that appropriate change control processes were implemented to manage any changes.