Sprint: Bus priority corridors for reliable, greener and better connected journeysNewsletter - February 2021 Welcome to the February issue of our Sprint newsletter. National Express have announced their intention to operate bus services along the Sprint corridor – including 20 hydrogen fuelled buses and, from 2023, electrically powered articulated low-level buses, both of which will help to reduce emissions along the route. The main construction work along the A45 in Birmingham is all set to begin, with a contractor announcement for the A34 due by the end of the month. In Walsall, Traffic Regulation Orders have gone out to the public to ask for their views (statutory consultation). And the removal of 23 trees will be offset with the planting of well over 500 trees along the A34 beginning in the Birmingham section next month. We’ll keep you updated with further information relating to the scheme and the ongoing construction, on our Sprint website where you’ll find regular news and construction updates. If you have any specific enquiries, please contact our customer services team using the details at the end of this newsletter. The Sprint Team Operator Announcement National Express West Midlands has announced its intention to run new rapid transit bus services along the A34 and A45 Sprint route between Walsall, Birmingham and Solihull. The new services will launch in May 2022 with a fleet of zero-emission double decker Platinum buses, to run along the dedicated bus lanes and priority junctions along the route. This new fleet will include 20 environmentally friendly hydrogen-fuelled buses funded by Birmingham City Council. National Express also plans to introduce the first of a fleet of high quality zero emission, low floor vehicles on the route during 2023. These tram-style buses have proved popular with customers on similar rapid transit services across Europe and the UK. Uninterrupted services will run from Walsall to Solihull and Birmingham airport, via Birmingham city centre. First services will be operational by May 2022 and call at key destinations including the NEC, Jaguar Land Rover Solihull and Alexander Stadium. You can read the full announcement here. Construction Update Barriers have now been installed along the Small Heath bypass which signals the start of construction work by our main construction partner Morgan Sindall Infrastructure along the A45. This work was delayed by the closure of the A34 Stratford Road near to Bordesley Circus due to problems with a water main. With barriers now in place activity can increase with the construction of new bus lanes along the bypass. Installation of the first enhanced bus shelters along the Birmingham section of the corridor is set to begin in April. Work along the Walsall Road in Birmingham is due to begin at the end of March, once a contractor announcement has been made. To find out where Sprint works are taking place, please visit the West Midlands Network Sprint Page. Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) in Walsall A number of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are being advertised by Walsall Council to assist with the development of phase 2 of the A34 Sprint project. Letters have already been delivered to properties along the Birmingham Road so that local residents can make their views known about the proposed changes to road layouts, as part of the statutory approval process. Full details including maps and drawings of the proposals and details of where to send any comments, can be viewed on the Walsall Council website. Any comments or objections need to be received by no later than 25 February 2021. Explainer: TROs A Traffic Regulation Order, or TRO, is the legal documentation required to make changes to the status of the highway. Informal public consultation on any proposed changes – such as those required for the Sprint Corridor – have to follow this formal, legal process before the changes can be introduced on the road itself. It provides an opportunity for members of the public to make comments on proposals or submit a formal objection (which must include grounds for the objection). TROs are organised by the local authority area. We’ve already completed the Traffic Regulation Order consultation process in Birmingham and we expect the TRO process for all four local authority areas to be concluded by May. For further information about the TRO process for the Sprint Corridor, contact sprintenquiries@tfwm.org.uk. Tree Planting and Removal As part of enabling works for the main construction, we need to remove 23 trees from along the A34. This includes 14 trees from along the Walsall Road between Perry Barr station and the Scott Arms junction, and 9 trees from along the Birmingham Road in the first phase of construction, (5 in Sandwell and 4 in Walsall). Local residents will be notified in advance of the work starting. All work will be carried out with the approval of the Local Authority Tree Officer and will be completed before the start of the bird nesting season at the beginning of March. The planting of more than 1,000 trees along the Sprint corridor is a key commitment, including 587 trees along the A34. We have already engaged with local councillors and residents and received suggestions of where this planting might take place to help enhance the local area. Tree planting in Birmingham is due to begin in March. Planned Activity This Month · Tree removal along parts of the A34 from Perry Barr to Walsall (23 trees in total). · Confirming the best locations for our tree planting in Birmingham. · Mobilising the site compounds along the A34 Walsall Road at Tamebridge Industrial Estate off Aldridge Road, and Miller Street. · Completion of the TRO approval process in Walsall. You’re up to dateThanks for taking the time to stay updated on the Sprint project. We will issue newsletters as and when we have new information to share. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with us using the contact details below. Tel: 0345 303 6760, option 2, then option 3. Please contact us if you require material provided in an alternative language. You can request hard copies or a different format,of this newsletter by using the contact details shown above. 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