West Midlands becomes UK’s first Future Mobility Area

The West Midlands has been awarded £20m funding to become the UK’s first Future Mobility Area.

Fleets in the West Midlands will be able to work with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to trial and demonstrate new modes of transport, services and technologies, like mobility as a service, car sharing, electric bikes and using data to avoid congestion.

New services, apps and projects will be developed to improve mobility, speed up journey times and further develop a joined-up transport network across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

New technology and use of transport data will be used to allow residents to travel seamlessly across different modes finding places to park their car before hopping on a bus, train or tram.

Commuters will get real time traffic data and have greater confidence of knowing how long a journey will take. Building on the success of the Swift card they will have access to the best prices and fares.

The Future Mobility Area will also develop work with companies to develop more car sharing, taxi, electric bike schemes and create more infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street said: “I am delighted that the government is announcing that the West Midlands will be the first ‘Future Mobility Area’ in the UK.

“This is a sector where we lead the world. Autonomous vehicles are being tested in Birmingham, electric taxis manufactured in Coventry, and Range Rovers are sold around the globe.

“The Future Mobility Area will make sure the residents of the West Midlands can travel around the region as quickly, easily and cheaply as possible.”