Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has announced the installation of two new local travel hubs offering sustainable transport options for short-distance trips as part of a £400,000 project in partnership with Dudley Council and Black Country Transport.
The first two hubs, known as Local Travel Points, have been installed at Huntingtree Park and Andrew Road, by Halesowen bus station. A third hub will open on Cross Street later this summer.
The hubs are being funded as part of the region’s Future Transport Zone, the initial three installations will lead the way for further rollouts of Local Travel Points across the region.
Local Travel Points are modular hubs designed to give people alternative and convenient options for trips around the local area.
They fit into small public spaces, bringing together a range of local travel and community services to suit the location, while better linking communities with local transport facilities and wider amenities.
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At the pilot locations, people will be able to access West Midlands Cycle Hire bikes and eBikes, secure bike storage, a cycle tool station, and passenger information.
Seating, canopies and benches have been installed alongside these services, to help revitalise the public realm.
TfWM also reported that electric car charging and by-the-hour ‘car club’ car rental will be introduced soon with Halesonians offered a series of offers to encourage use of the new services and support residents to travel affordably.
In the coming weeks, residents will receive 100 minutes of West Midlands Cycle Hire credit, redeemable until the end of Summer. Six months of free secure cycle storage will also be available.
Future locations could have additional features added to suit the area including e-scooter hire and eBike charging facilities.
Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, Richard Parker, said: “These hubs represent an important milestone in delivering an improved local transport network.
“They will link up services like cycle hire with the wider bus, rail and tram networks meaning residents in Halesowen can get further across the West Midlands using greener transport.
“Our investment in this pilot scheme is just the beginning, with the potential to roll these hubs out to more neighbourhoods across our region.
“I want our local transport system to work for all of our residents, and to ensure everyone, wherever they are in the region, can access the services they need.
“The success of these hubs will play a crucial role in shaping our transport network – one that will keep our region moving now and in the future.”
Achievements and innovations in public transport planning will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
