Travel hub pilot in Halesowen
Dudley town begins year-long trial of ‘Local Travel Points’, with sustainable transport options for short-distance trips
Two new travel hubs have been installed in Halesown, in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, West Midlands, as part of a wider initiative to encourage more sustainable modes of transport. A third hub will open late this summer.
Cllr Damian Corfield, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chris Brown, Senior Future Mobility Developer at Transport for West Midlands, see at the new Andrew Road Local Travel Point. Photo courtesy of Dudley Council
These ‘Local Travel Points’ are modular hubs designed to fit into small public spaces. They bring together a range of local travel and community services, chosen to suit the location. They also better link communities with local transport facilities and wider amenities.
In the two sites already installed, residents and visitors can access West Midlands Cycle Hire bikes and eBikes. There is also secure bike storage, a cycle tool station and passenger information, as well as seating, canopies and benches. What’s more, the sites will soon also benefit from electric car charging and a by-the-hour ‘car club’ rental service.
Local residents are being offered 100 minutes of free credit for West Midland Cycle Hire, redeemable until the end of the summer. Six months of free secure cycle storage will also be offered, all as part of an incentive to make use of the new amenities.
Art and civic pride also play a part in the new venture. Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and IKON Gallery have also commissioned a new sculpture from Black Country artist Tom Hicks, which will become a feature of the Local Travel Point at Cross Street.
In all, the three new hubs have a budget of £400,000, funded as part of the region’s Future Transport Zone. The project has been designed and developed by TfWM – part of the West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA) – in partnership with Dudley Council and Black Country Transport. Depending on the results of the pilot, the hope is to install further Local Travel Points across the region.
Over the next year, TfWM will oversee public engagement events and evaluations to assess the impact of the pilot. Members of the public are invited to share their views using the online engagement platform, Commonplace.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the WMCA, says: ‘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.’
Cllr Damian Corfield, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, adds: ‘As a local authority committed to achieving net zero by 2030, I am thrilled to see this pilot scheme installed across parts of the Dudley borough. These innovative travel hubs offer residents a convenient and sustainable alternative to traditional car travel, and by promoting active travel options like cycling, we can collectively contribute to a healthier community.’
In related news:
Glasgow City Council looks to artificial intelligence for traffic management
Winchester City Council’s all-electric fleet of housing vehicles
Leave a Reply