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Press Realeases

Explore a selection of my press releases below.

WMCA •

New AI technology reveals road safety risks across the West Midlands

Near misses between drivers and pedestrians are being detected using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology as part of a region wide pilot scheme to improve safety and save lives.
VivaCity’s AI-powered vision sensors detect and record near misses, such as when a vehicle passes within inches of a slower moving pedestrian or cyclist, so that potential collision hot spots can be identified before someone is actually hurt.







A total of 40...
WMCA •

Mayor appoints more than 50 experts to begin work on key priorities

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, has appointed more than 50 experts from the region’s housing, transport, economic and skills sectors to help him transform thousands of lives for the better.
The 56 experts will make up four dedicated taskforces, to help guide policy and actions that tackle some the region’s biggest challenges and deliver the Mayor’s key priorities – Growth for Everyone – Jobs for Everyone – Homes for Everyone and Journeys for Everyone.
The first to meet has been the G...
WMCA •

Vision for connecting stations to local communities set out by new community rail leader

The newly appointed chair of the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (WCRP) has set out his plans to strengthen ties between railway stations and the communities they serve to make them a source of local pride.
Tom Painter, general manager of the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and head of rail at Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), will lead renewed efforts transforming stations into vibrant gateways that reflect local character and culture while promoting sustainable travel....
WMCA •

Birmingham fashion brand HADES secures funding to help take American market by storm

Iconic knitwear brand HADES Collections is set to export their cult British style across the pond with the aim of taking the American market by storm.
The Birmingham based brand is already a firm favourite with celebrities - actor Paul Mescal recently wore a HADES cardigan for an interview about his lead role in the new Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator II.
The company has also collaborated with the likes of Blondie, Iggy Pop and The Cure, and is a regular on the pages of top-tier publications suc...
WMCA •

Grieving families go on camera to reveal the tragic impact of reckless driving

Families whose loved ones have had their lives taken on the region’s roads have expressed their pain and grief in a series of hard-hitting videos highlighting the devastating impact of dangerous driving.
Parents, children, brothers, sisters, partners and cousins have all opened their hearts to speak of the shock and on-going anguish of road death.
Their poignant stories are part of a joint campaign between Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash vict...
WMCA •

Mayor of the West Midlands unveils UK’s biggest free bus travel offer this Christmas

Free weekday evening travel is being offered across the West Midlands, on all bus services, in the run up to Christmas this year, in a unique move never seen before on this scale in the UK.
Between Monday 9th December and Friday 13th December all of the region’s buses will be free to use from 7pm onwards, with passengers able to simply hop onboard and travel anywhere across the West Midlands bus network.
The offer, from the Mayor of the West Midlands, delivered in partnership with all bus operat...
WMCA •

Art event celebrating cycling and walking comes to Wolverhampton

An exhibition featuring artwork inspired by and celebrating active travel has opened in Wolverhampton today (Monday November 18).
‘Cycle? Walk? Art?’ showcases work from a recent walking and cycling project funded by the UK Government and hosted by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The exhibition celebrates artwork from community workshops, aiming to inspire visitors to consider active travel, the collective term for walking, wheeling and cy...
WMCA •

New smart sensor technology to improve safety on key cycle route in Solihull

Innovative smart sensor technology is being tested on Solihull’s A34 Stratford Road in a bid to make busy crossings safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and Solihull Council have installed the ground-breaking technology at a toucan crossing near Blythe Valley.
These sensors, developed by VivaCity, detect cyclists 20-30 meters away from the crossing compared to standard technology.
This early detection enables...
WMCA •

New local travel hubs bring cycle hire and transport services closer to communities in Halesowen

New local travel hubs offering communities easy access to bikes, electric car chargers and other services are to be trialled on the streets of Halesowen.
Called Local Travel Points (LTPs), the first three hubs are set to be installed at Huntingtree Park, Cross Street and Andrew Road over the next two months.
The modular hubs can be assembled to fit parking bays and small public spaces and bring together a range of local travel and community services to suit the location. They are designed to mak...
WMCA •

Birmingham cross-city bus lanes fast-tracked due to road closure

Plans to install bus lanes on a busy east Birmingham commuter route have been brought forward to keep services running smoothly during a major long-term road closure.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has accelerated plans for the installation of dedicated bus lanes on Washwood Heath Road to support several popular bus services.
It is one of a wider range of cross-city bus route improvements being planned to improve connections and...
WMCA •

"Save-a-Space" for a new hassle-free park and ride experience

A parking bay reservation system which allows commuters to pre-book spaces at selected Park & Ride car parks is being rolled out to three West Midlands Metro stops.
Commuters across the region will now be able to reserve spaces at Black Lake, Priestfield and Wednesbury Parkway through the "Save-a-Space" service.
This means commuters no longer need to cross their fingers for an available space at park and ride sites. Now, they can simply enjoy the convenience and peace of mind of knowing a space...
WMCA •

Cross-city bus route network to make services quicker and easier for passengers

Four new cross-city bus routes, designed to make services more reliable and attractive, are set to be developed following the award of £70 million funding.
The routes will link communities across Birmingham city centre and pave the way for genuine cross-city services, saving passengers time changing buses.
New bus lanes, amendments to junctions, traffic signals, parking and bus stops will allow buses to bypass traffic jams and provide more reliable, regular and predictable journey times, with en...
WMCA •

Region’s Catch The Bus Month celebrations start with Coventry event

This September marks the celebration of Catch the Bus Month, organised by Bus Users UK, and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) participated by hosting an event at Millennium Place in Coventry.
On Thursday (14 September), between 11 am and 4 pm, TfWM staff were outside the transport museum at Millennium Place, offering an exciting line-up of activities. Visitors could experience a National Express West Midlands bus simulator, explore an electric bus, and even had the chance to win fantastic prize...
WMCA •

Construction training and employment opportunities on major Birmingham development site

Local people have the chance to learn valuable construction skills while helping to build Birmingham city centre’s latest residential skyscraper.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has handed £100,000 of its adult education budget to construction firm John Sisk & Son so it can run a Skills Centre hub, offering local people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview at the end of the 20-day course.