Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Draft Games Strategic Transport Plan

Have your say

19 sports, bringing together more than 12,000 athletes, Games Family and international media for 11 days of top class competition in amazing venues. Records will be beaten and hearts will be broken; whoever you’re backing, there’s never been a better chance to get close to the action.

And sport is only the start.

The Games is a catalyst for change, helping to deliver a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous region for us all. New and upgraded sports facilities, affordable housing and the creation of thousands of volunteer and job opportunities; the Games is a chance to make a real difference to the West Midlands and help us all succeed, not just now, but for years to come.

Transport has an important role to play in making all this happen which is why Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), as part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, in partnership with Birmingham 2022 and local authorities across the West Midlands, is accelerating existing transport plans to deliver a truly unforgettable Games.

Together, we’ve created a draft Games Strategic Transport Plan and we want your views.

What’s happening?

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games 27 July – 7 August 2022

The draft Games Strategic Transport Plan The draft Games Strategic Transport Plan explains how we’ll make sure you can continue to travel around the West Midlands during the Games.

There are just under three years to go until the Games begin so the document outlines our early planning. It doesn’t cover the exact details of how transport will work, for example between venues, or what roads will have restrictions in place.

During the Games, the way you travel might need to change at certain times, for example just before or after an event. There will also be times when we need to make changes to timetables or services that are busier than normal, so you might need to queue. The draft plan sets out a commitment to keeping you updated when that happens so you can plan your journeys and avoid delays.

Some of the decisions we need to make will be difficult, so we’ve set out five principles which will help us with the planning.

They are:

Clean and green; a public transport Games: Public transport, walking and cycling will be the easiest and most effective way to get around during the Games. This will help to reduce congestion, contribute to improved air quality and help keep the region moving.

Safe, secure, reliable and efficient transport: Transport will be safe, secure and reliable. Athletes and Games Family will be able to get to where they need to go, on time, and everyday users of the transport network can continue to travel around the region safely.

Minimising disruption: We will minimise the impact of the Games on the transport network to ensure residents can get to work on time, businesses can make and receive deliveries and the region remains open for business.

Long term benefits: Birmingham 2022 will be a catalyst for delivering transport projects such as the first phase of Sprint and improved rail stations. We want to maximise the benefits of the Games to make sure the effects are long lasting, like encouraging more walking and cycling, so that the region can benefit for years to come.

Access for all: Public transport will be easy to use, affordable and accessible across all modes so that everyone is able to take part and enjoy the experience of the Games.

Keeping you up to date

The draft Games Strategic Transport Plan is the first chance to be involved in shaping transport for Birmingham 2022.

As plans develop and we get closer to the opening ceremony, there will be more opportunities for you to give your feedback.

By the end of 2021 we will know which routes will be used by athletes to get to venues, known as Games Routes. Over the coming years, we’ll speak to residents and businesses we think will be affected, giving you the opportunity to influence our plans by telling us what matters to you. Your views will be important in ensuring the transport network works for everyone.

Then, in 2022 as we get ready to showcase the West Midlands to the world, we’ll explain how transport will work and launch a journey planner to help you understand and plan your journeys during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Games will make a world of difference for everyone in Birmingham, across the West Midlands, throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.

We are just at the start of the journey and this plan for transport is the first step. We want to know if the five principles listed in this leaflet are the right things to focus on when it comes to planning transport for Birmingham 2022 and how you want to be kept informed going forward. The back page of this leaflet explains how you can get in touch.

The timeline below sets out how we will be planning for the Games between now and 2022.

Over to you

• Confirmation of key roads being used to link Games venues to one another - these will be called Games Routes

• Construction on transport projects (Sprint, rail, Metro) delivered in time for the Games

• Confirming the routes which will be used for the marathon and cycling road races

• Planning how spectators, athletes and Games Family will move around during the Games

• Planning so that residents and businesses can still get to where they need to go, making sure the West Midlands remains open for business

• Designing how we will strengthen the transport network to manage additional demand for travel during the Games and keep the region moving

• Confirmation of Park and Ride sites

• Updating the Games Strategic Transport Plan

Operations planning

• Engagement on the draft Games Strategic Transport Plan

• Confirmation of sports and venues

Strategic planning

• Confirmation of temporary changes to roads, traffic and transport

• Working with local residents and businesses to understand changes to transport so they can still go about their daily lives

• Launch of tools which support residents, businesses and visitors plan journeys during the Games

2022 - Games time

2019 2020 2021 2022

Ongoing engagement - We are committed to keeping you informed as key decisions are made

You can find out more information and share your views in the following ways:

Online Read the draft Games Strategic Transport Plan in full and fill in a survey at: TfWM.org.uk/B2022transport

Post Customer Services, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD

Telephone 0345 303 6760 (select ‘option 2’ followed by ‘option 3’)

Email customerservices@tfwm.org.uk

Tweet @TransportforWM

We can provide copies of the survey, the draft Games Strategic Transport Plan or this leaflet in different formats, please get in touch to let us know what you need:

At an eventDate Time Location

Saturday 21 September 10am-3pm Exhibition Bus, Park Street, Walsall Town Centre, WS1 1LJ

Saturday 5 October 10am-3pm Marquee, Mell Square, Solihull Town Centre, B91 3BG

Saturday 12 October 10am-3pm Exhibition Bus, Birmingham High Street, B4 7SS

Saturday 19 October 10am-3pm Exhibition Bus, The Parade, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1PL

Saturday 2 November 9am-5pm Exhibition Bus, Broadgate, Coventry, CV1 1FS

Saturday 2 November 10am-12noon Cannock Chase Cafe, Birches Valley, WS15 2UQ

Saturday 2 November 1pm-3pm Marquee, Church Street, Cannock Town Centre, WS11 0DB

Wednesday 6 November 3pm-7pm Dorothy Parks, Community Centre, Smethwick, B67 6EH

Saturday 9 November 10am-3pm Exhibition Bus, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE

Wednesday 13 November 3pm-7pm Brunswick Hub, 98-100 Shrubland Street, CV31 3BD

Saturday 23 November 10am-3pm Goals, Tameside Park, Aldridge Rd, Birmingham, B42 2UB

We’re asking for your feedback between Monday 16 September and Friday 6 December 2019