Midlands Connect published its first transport strategy in 2017, and since then has made excellent progress – researching, developing and progressing schemes that will bring the biggest social, economic and environmental benefits to our region.

Despite this success, the world is a very different place now than it was four years ago. To reflect the huge changes we have experienced, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and a heightening climate crisis, we are in the process of refreshing our strategy to ensure we overcome these unprecedented challenges. This updated strategy will be published in late 2021.

In advance of this, we have been collaborating with our partners and key stakeholders to gain a wider understanding of how these huge changes and challenges have impacted policy-making at local, regional and national level.

Starting from 4th February, we are extending this further and want to engage with you, the wider public. It is important to seek broader input into our work and new perspectives on the challenges that we are considering which will guide our future activity.

How can you get involved?

Midlands Connect has outlined the context for its refreshed strategy, focusing on how regional transport and connectivity can help tackle the following challenges:

Economic recovery and growth

Transport’s role in helping the region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and, beyond this, supporting the jobs, development and regeneration essential to our regional prosperity.

Levelling-up

Funding transport projects to boost the life chances of our communities, boosting social mobility, productivity and quality of life.

Climate change and carbon

Focusing on decarbonising transport by increasing use of public transport, reducing congestion on our roads, and supporting technology and innovation.

Combining this with our existing technical programme, we have developed a short summary document ‘Challenges, opportunities and a call for input’. A longer document, with more details, is also available to download.

Between Thursday 4th February and Friday 19th March, we are seeking your views on the issues outlined in our report(s). To capture your input, we have devised three interactive tools:

1) Become a transport planner for a day

Ever wondered how you would make strategic decisions on transport investment in the Midlands? This is your chance to tell us what measures you would put in place to improve the transport network for the people, places and businesses of our region.

Access the MCSim Tool

2) Respond to our ‘call for input’ questions

Complete our form with the four questions below:

1) To support the economic recovery post-Covid, which specific transport projects would you prioritise for delivery within the next 5 years? (Please note the projects must address east-west connectivity in the Midlands) *

2) In response to the Government’s levelling up agenda, Midlands Connect is identifying major transport projects which will improve the lives of people in the region and across the UK. Which specific transport projects would you prioritise for delivery by 2030? (Please note the projects must consider pan-regional connectivity). *

3) As a region, we need to respond to the climate change emergency. What are your top three priorities for a greener, sustainable transport network? *

4) What technology solutions do you think the Government should invest in to support the Midlands achieve a greener, low-carbon economy? *

First part of your postcode

Captcha

3) Watch and participate in our webinars

In our MC webinar series, you’ll hear from politicians, business leaders and industry experts on our core themes. The webinars in February are:

COVID – Build Back Better = 4th February
Levelling up = 11th February
Decarbonisation = 18th February

Our documents

Challenges, opportunities and a call for input (summary version)

Challenges, opportunities and a call for input (longer version).

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email the team mcstrategy@midlandsconnect.uk.

The deadline for feedback via the tool and responses to the questions is Friday 19th March 2021.