Regeneration has changed the nature of travel in the West Midlands with more and longer journeys now being made. Also with long term growth planned for the region, it is important to require improved skills, increased job prospects, great number of homes and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The transport network therefore needs to keep pace and help shape this new agenda in a sustainable, socially inclusive way.

 

In order for organisations in the West Midlands to succeed in these areas, a Transport Regeneration Fund (TRF) has been established. The fund will reflect current national transport policy, to ensure public transport responds to the wider environmental, social, physical and economic needs of the region and will assist projects address the unmet transport needs of groups and communities, particularly when accessing key services such as employment, health and education.

 

The Transport Regeneration Fund will also assist organisations in providing innovative solutions to transport requirements, whether it is the unemployed, elderly, youth and minority groups, health focus groups or community and regeneration agencies. However, the range of activities and groups that the fund can support is not limited to the above and applications are welcome from any eligible organisation or project.

 

 

The Department for Transport's report entitled 'Delivering a Sustainable Transport System' (DaSTS) which was published in December 2008, supports the aims of the Transport Regeneration Fund. The report was in response to the Eddington Study and the Stern Review and explained how organisations can tackle immediate transport problems whilst also shaping the transport system in a sustainable way to meet the longer term challenges.

 

The five core DaSTs objectives are:

• to support economic competitiveness and growth
• to reduce transport's emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
• to protect people's safety, security and health
• to improve quality of life, through a healthy natural environment
• promote greater equality of opportunity

The Transport Regeneration Fund particularly focuses on three key objectives within the Dasts report of:

• Tackling climate change

• Promoting equality to opportunities
• Better safety, security and health

If your organisation has identified a transport solution to a community or group need, Centro's Transport Regeneration Fund might well be a source of funding your organisation could benefit from.

 

Vision for Movement

 

A compelling vision to transform the way people come into and move around Birmingham city centre was launched in November 2010 by business, council and transport chiefs.

 

The Vision for Movement documents a comprehensive network of rapid transit, bus, rail, cycling and walking routes which will aid Birmingham's economic regeneration and help cement its future as a vibrant, global city.

 

Creating a well connected, efficient and walkable city, finding transport solutions that are realistic and deliverable in the short to medium term and that also allow for the longer-term schemes planned in the city are outlined in the document.

 

The Vision is the result of a newly formed partnership between the city's business community, by way of its Business Improvement Districts (BID's), Birmingham City Council, transport authority Centro and National Express West Midlands.