The Government’s ‘The Future of Transport’ White Paper of 2004 builds on the progress that has already been made since the implementation of the ‘10 Year Plan for Transport’ and extends the investment plans to 2014-15. It sets out a strategy for the next thirty years based around three central themes – sustained investment, improvements in transport management and planning ahead.
More information on the national picture
Roads
The Highways Agency is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all motorways and trunk roads in the country, including road-building programmes. All other roads are the responsibility of local authorities.
Government Office for the West Midlands works closely with both the Highways Agency and local authorities to ensure that the region has an effective road system. We also provide advice to the Department for Transport's Secretary of State for decisions relating to the Highways Agency’s road building programme.
Rail
Government Office for the West Midlands works to ensure the regional engagement of the Department for Transport and the rail industry in taking forward regional priorities.
The region's rail system is managed by the following organisations:
- Network Rail manages the complete rail network infrastructure across the whole country.
- The Office of the Rail Regulator is the independent Government Department responsible for the regulation of the railways in Great Britain.
- The Department for Transport is the Government Department responsible for national railway passengers, freight and infrastructure.
These organisations are working to deliver the 2004 White Paper ‘The Future of Rail’ which sets out a blueprint for new streamlined structure for Britain’s railways.
Air Travel
Birmingham International Airport's masterplan was published at the end of 2007 and set out their proposals for taking forward the recommendation in the ‘The Future of Air Transport’ White Paper.
This builds on the Transport White Papers 'The Future of Air Transport' and ‘A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone’ recommendations to encourage the growth of regional airports to meet local demand for air travel where consistent with sustainable development principles.
Freight
Government Office for the West Midlands works to ensure that the freight industry is given a voice in the region such as through the promotion of Freight Quality Partnerships in Local Transport Plans.
National Road Safety Policy
Government Office for the West Midlands works to ensure that priority is given to meeting road safety targets and to addressing road safety issues across the region. The Government has set tough new targets to reduce deaths and serious injuries on British roads by 2010.
Information on the Government’s THINK campaign can be found by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
Read more about the Government’s road safety strategy and casualty reduction targets for 2010 by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
To see the national accident statistics please access the Department for Transport’s website by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
Buses
Government Office for the West Midlands is working closely with local authorities to ensure that the region has an effective, inclusive and accessible public transport system. We are liaising closely with local authorities to ensure that the importance of bus travel is recognised within their Local Transport Plans. It is essential that the enormous potential of buses is realised and that the role of the bus becomes more effective in an integrated transport system.
Light Rail
Government Office for the West Midlands is working to provide a regional perspective on the appraisal of light rail schemes.
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (Centro) has information on current and future Metro proposals in the West Midlands which can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
Cycling
Government Office for the West Midlands actively promotes the inclusion of cyclingin local authorities Local Transport Plans in partnership with local authorities, Cycling England and Sustrans.
There are a number of important national cycle routes in our region, including route 45 that runs through Worcester and parts of the Iron Bridge Gorge.
For further details on the national policy see the Department for Transport's website or for local initiatives contact the appropriate local authority or Sustrans.
Walking
Government Office for the West Midlands actively promotes the inclusion and promotion of walking in our local authorities local transport plans. The Department for Transport have identified a number of areas where improvement is required to encourage walking including:
- A greater focus on the needs of pedestrians
- Integrating walking into transport and land use planning
- Improving conditions to make it safer, easier and more convenient for people to walk.
If you would like more information on any of the initiatives listed here please contact the Government Office for the West Midlands Transport Team.
