A £6M boost into Manchester’s Bee Network transport system has just been approved, as an underground infrastructure for Manchester is announced.
The new funding is to push the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s 2030 goal for 90% of city residents to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram that arrives every 30 minutes. Major links and routes are expected to be developed, in addition to an underground public transport system to be assessed. The funding will also support the investment into new ‘next generation’ trams that are fully walk-through, and double the length of current trams.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “This latest funding means we can develop the case for a pipeline of both tram and tram-train new lines and extensions – and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre – to make sure we get a public transport system befitting the global city region we are.”
The transport commissioner for Greater Manchester, Vernon Everitt said: “Better transport is a core enabler of economic growth, higher productivity and greater access to homes, jobs and wider opportunity across the whole of Greater Manchester. This new development work will help ensure that we have a pipeline of projects to build on everything that is already being done across bus, tram, rail and walking, wheeling and cycling as we create an integrated Bee Network for the people and businesses of this fast-growing city-region.”
