Cross Boundary Transport Planning
This LTP2 is a cross-boundary document, jointly developed by all the Metropolitan Authorities. The scale of the Metropolitan Area’s influence is such that the LTP2 could not sensibly equate with Travel To Work Areas. However, we liaise regularly with adjoining local authorities as well as other organisations whose activities transcend our administrative boundaries.
The Regional Transport Officers Group (RTOG) was formed a number of years ago to facilitate cross-boundary working at regional level. County, Unitary and Metropolitan Authority officers attend, alongside representatives of the Regional Assembly, Advantage West Midlands, Highways Agency, DfT (Rail), Birmingham International Airport and transport operators. CEPOG is also represented on this Group.
RTOG provides technical support to the West Midlands Transport Planning Partnership (a committee of the Regional Assembly). Its work helps to ensure that cross-boundary issues between the Metropolitan Area and surrounding county and unitary authority areas are addressed effectively, guided by the Regional Transport Strategy and influenced by other agencies’ objectives.
Officers from the local authorities also meet individually to focus on specific LTP issues in order to ensure cross-boundary coordination. Metropolitan Authority and/or Support Team officers participate in or have links with other bodies that deal with transport issues, such as the regional Freight Quality Partnership and West Midlands Business Transport Group.
The following paragraphs highlight some examples of cross-boundary working between Metropolitan Authority officers and our counterparts in adjoining local transport authorities.
Our Major Scheme on Wobaston Road in Wolverhampton is designed to provide proper access to the regionally important 'i54' site that lies within South Staffordshire. We also support Staffordshire's proposal to develop major Park & Ride facilities at Brinsford, just north of the M54 motorway, which will serve 'i54' and adjoining facilities within the Metropolitan Area and Wolverhampton city centre, and we are working with Staffordshire to improve local rail services between our two areas.
We support the principle of a Worcester Parkway station, proposed by Worcestershire County Council (WCC), to help relieve traffic on the M5 leading into our Area. We plan to extend the 'Help2Travel' (MATTISSE) information system to cover much of Worcestershire, particularly to assist travel in the Central Technology Belt that includes Worcester and Malvern. The development of the Longbridge Link Road proposal is also being advanced in partnership with WCC.
A further example is the Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire sub-regional study. We are considering extending the Coventry Rapid Transit Major Scheme north and south of the city, to Nuneaton and Kenilworth. We support Warwickshire's proposals for the Coleshill Interchange which will enhance access to BIA / NEC area; and we support improvements to junction 15 of the M40 in Warwickshire, as congestion here impacts on the strategic links to our Area.
By taking this approach, we have developed our LTP2 in a way that fully addresses local and regional needs and opportunities across administrative boundaries.