Helping to decarbonise the transport sector with the Midland Metro Alliance

Michael Truman, a Utilities CAD Technician, has been seconded to the Midland Metro Alliance in Birmingham for a little over a year now. Not only has he been working with them to reduce emissions in the city and surrounding areas, but also to boost inclusivity and opportunities for local residents.

Trams were first established in Birmingham in 1999, running between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. However, the last five years have seen considerable development of the tramway, thanks to the Midland Metro Alliance, who is working on behalf of Transport for West Midlands. The main benefits of these extensions are:

• Inclusivity – Increased public transport links that are reliable give residents greater access to Birmingham and the Black Country
• Education and work opportunities – More links to the region are creating further opportunities for those seeking jobs in harder-to-reach areas
• Reduced congestion – Less traffic in the West Midlands has a whole host of benefits including reduced emissions, contributing to the area’s clean air targets

During the developments, the alliance have been maintaining existing assets and giving back to local communities. A great example of this is the forthcoming route to Dudley which saw aged rails donated to the Severn Valley heritage steam railway.

Michael’s work within the Utilities department is essential, primarily dealing with the pre-construction diversion works to ensure congestion is minimised during the developments.

Click here to find out more about the Midland Metro Alliance.