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Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive working under the policy and financial guidance of West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA), July 23 recommended four new Mildand Metro corridors to be developed in the mid-section of England’s Birmingham area.



The corridors include Birmingham Eastside via Hagley Road to Quinton or Halesowen, with possible spurs to Bartley Green or Oldbury; Birmingham Coventry Road to Birminghan Airport and NEC; Great Barr or Kingstanding to Bournbrook or Selly Oak; and Wolverhampton to Walsall via Wednesfield.



Centro intends to include plans for the four corridors, which would cost $714 million to build, in the 2001 West Midlands Local Transport Plan to be submitted to the government at month-end.



Pending WMPTA approval, Centro would present its case for each line to the government for support and to discuss funding packages. Then it would seek Transport and Works Act powers and award construction contracts.



The earliest any of the routes could open would likely be 2008; additional routes studied could follow in 2012.