Swap cars for public transport, say bosses

Jun 30 2006

COMUTERS looking to avoid congestion have been told to leave their cars at home and use public transport.

The essential pot-hole repairs on the Midland motorway will see thousands of extra cars diverted onto local roads in and out of the city.

But transport chiefs have said the solution to long delays during the six-month programme is to use the area's bus, train and tram network.

Coun Gary Clarke, chairman of regional body Centro-PTA, said commuters should try an alternative method of getting to work.

"During the roadworks it will be one way to avoid frustrating traffic jams and save time on journeys," he said. "We want to make sure people have a range of travel choices. Making public transport easier to use means motorists can avoid jams."

A spokesman for Centro said people travelling from Wolverhampton to Birmingham can do so in 17 minutes by train during morning rush hour while journey times from Coventry are around 20 minutes. For more information visit www.networkwest midlands.com or contact 0870 608 2608.