According to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), bus services are more reliable and average journey times up to 22% quicker along two key Birmingham commuter routes following the introduction of Sprint bus priority measures earlier this year. 

Times taken by 12,000 buses on the A45 between Sheldon and Birmingham city centre and the A34 between Walsall and the city centre during September have been compared with the same routes on the same month in 2019.

the data has shown that journeys are 22% quicker for peak time commuters on the X1 and X2 as the buses bypass traffic jams during their morning rush hour commute on the A45 into Birmingham city centre.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said:

“Beyond the quality of bus itself, Sprint was intended to improve infrastructure, bus lanes and priority at junctions in order to enable buses to cut through traffic and offer passengers greater certainty around arrival times. I’m so pleased that we can now see that we have delivered in terms of both quicker and more reliable bus journeys for local residents."

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio lead for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

“This data shows that bus lanes and junction upgrades do make a difference to people’s journeys.