Action Briefing Dec 2003 - Jan 2004
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Have your say: Centro's Metro routes consultation

Centro are consulting the public on five proposed Metro routes, four of which are in Birmingham, the other one linking Walsall with Wednesbury via Wolverhampton.

The proposed five routes are:

1. From Five Ways to Quinton along the Hagley Road with a possible extension to Halesowen, and a potential park and ride site at Junction 3 of the M5;
2. A branch from the Hagley Road to Bartley Green terminating close to Frankley Services on the M5 with a possible Park and Ride site;
3. City Centre to Perry Barr along Walsall Road with a possible extension to Scott Arms or Junction 7 of the M6 and a possible branch to Kingstanding, with potential Park and Ride sites at Perry Barr and next to Junction 7 of the M6;
4. City Centre to Birmingham International Airport along Coventry Road;
5. ‘The Five W’s’: Wolverhampton to Wednesbury via Walsall, Willenhall and Wednesfield.

Its encouraging to see that, unlike Metro Line One and the proposed Line Two from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, these proposals are predominantly on street with reallocation of road space away from other traffic for use either by Metro alone or shared with buses.

We support the general concept of expanding the Midland Metro network so long as it's predominantly on street, involves no road widening, and avoids any large scale demolition. However, we object to the several Park and Ride sites that have been identified which, rather than reducing traffic congestion, will have the effect of shifting car traffic around other parts of the region and encourage more car journeys.

Metrocious!
Neither are we too enamoured with the Bartley Green route itself as it duplicates to a large degree the Cross City rail route as far as University station. For the most part runs through fairly low density urban sprawl; hardly an example of the high volume corridors for which trams are suited. There is also limited road widening proposed along parts of the Hagley Road and on Birchfield Road in Perry Barr.

One of the options for the Coventry Road route would be to run alongside the present Moor Street to Leamington railway line as far as Bordesley using the disused trackbeds. We would oppose this as it would jeopardise the prospects of reinstating four-tracking of the Leamington railway route which urgently needs more capacity.
Other options involve the use of Digbeth High Street; infinitely preferable as it would make the Metro service much more
accessible.

Our general position on Midland Metro extensions is summarised below:

1. There should be no park and ride sites (see the article on park and ride)
   
2. Street running wherever possible with reallocation of road space to the tram;
   
3. No road widening for accommodating Metro routes;
   
4. Flat signal controlled junctions at large traffic islands rather than flyovers;
   
5. No large scale demolition;
   
6. No conversion of heavy rail routes to metro or disused heavy rail routes which have the potential to be reopened as rail routes;
   
7. Overground rather than underground. Two of the proposals have options for short City Centre tunnel sections which would make the service less accessible.

Even if the initial outline business cases for these routes manage to jump the hurdles set by Central Government, it is highly unlikely that any construction would start before 2008. We can’t afford to sit back and wait for new Metro routes which may or may not happen, so in the meantime other measures must be implemented to reduce car use and increase walking, cycling and public transport use. Perhaps some form of congestion or road user charging, or work place parking levy will be necessary long before work is started on any of these proposed routes.

Martin Stride

Take Action
Deadline for the consultation is 31st December and there will be several exhibitions of the proposals in the City Centre and other relevant locations. More details at www.centro.org.uk where you can also make your comments and look at the information brochures available for each route and make your comments.