FUNDING to take the development of the pioneering Very Light Rail (VLR) scheme in Coventry to the next stage has been approved by regional transport chiefs.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board agreed to advance £50million to accelerate work on a number of key transport projects across the region.
They include further development of the VLR project in Coventry, including upgrades of the tram and the innovative ‘slab and track’ technology.
VLR will allow urban tramways to be built in half the time and for half the cost of traditional tram systems.
Mr Parker said: “Together we are building a new transport network to fuel the economy, secure investment and bring the new homes and jobs local people need.”
The £50million is an advance on the £2.4billion Transport for City Regions funding coming from the government to the West Midlands from 2027 to 2032. The money will be used for new road, rail, tram, bus and active travel investment.
Other projects covered by the new investment include schemes in Birmingham to extend the Metro to the Sports Quarter regeneration site in the east of the city, and upgrades to the Witton and Aston railway stations.
The decision to bring forward funding was part of a wider review of transport investment to make sure the region gets maximum benefit from the £2.4billion Transport for City Regions funding secured by the Mayor last summer.
It also confirmed the doubling of funding to £240million for pothole repairs and road improvements in Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
