Sprint

Sprint is a bus priority corridor linking Walsall and Solihull via Birmingham city centre to form one continuous route.

Designed to support our region's economic growth and expanding population, Sprint will help to combat congestion by offering reliable, connected, and sustainable public transport.

Sprint is a key part of delivering an integrated, environmentally friendly transport network for the West Midlands, an extended network that will include Cross City Bus, Midland Metro, rail and eventually, HS2. This investment in our passenger transport network will help provide the capacity and quality of service we need, while helping to keep our region moving.

The Sprint Corridor

Bus priority corridors are designed to put bus passengers first. They include a number of measures to improve bus travel. In the case of Sprint, these include extended bus lanes and priority signaling, new bus shelters and eventually, articulated vehicles with zero emissions.

Dedicated bus lanes, priority signaling at junctions and swifter movement of passengers on and off buses, means that journey times can not only be quicker, but become much more predictable too.

Phase One

The first phase of the Sprint project is now complete, delivered on time and to budget and included extended bus lanes, priority signaling and new shelters along the A45 and A34.

Over 95 enhanced bus shelters designed specifically to improve both the comfort and safety of bus users have been introduced along the corridor – allowing easy access to vehicles, reducing bus stopping times and enabling more reliable onward travel.

All services using the corridor now benefit from enhanced bus priority measures and an improved passenger experience, including:

• more reliable, regular and predictable journey times
• journey times savings of up to 22% on key routes.

Phase Two

We’re now moving on to Phase Two, which will complete the Sprint corridor. We’re continuing to develop our plans  in Walsall and about to begin construction of our Phase Two proposals in Solihull. You can view our plans and have your say on Commonplace.

We will keep you informed with updates on the website and notifications to residents and local businesses to advise of any disruption.

To help plan your journey during construction, visit the major roadworks and events section of our website

Phase 2 construction

A34 Walsall Road from Newtown Middleway to the Scott Arms junction. Highway improvement works at the Trinity Road junction and at Newtown Middleway, with a further six enhanced shelters set to be installed.

A45 Coventry Road from the Wheatsheaf junction to Swan Island. Work is in three main sections on the northbound side of Coventry Road between Clay Lane and Lyndon Road. Three new shelters will be installed.

Solihull from the Wheatsheaf junction to Solihull railway station. Work is in three main areas: Hobs Moat Road, Lode Lane (near to JLR) and Solihull Town Centre. A further six Sprint shelters will also be installed.

To help plan your journey during construction, visit the major roadworks and events section of our website