Metro Edgbaston Extension (side roads) Traffic Regulation Order

Results updated 5 Dec 2024

From December 2024 Birmingham City Council will be enforcing the current bus lane restrictions on Broad Street.

The restrictions were introduced in 2022, when the metro extension to Five Ways was opened. Regrettably, some people are continuing to drive and stop in these lanes, causing delays to bus and metro services. We will therefore be using camera enforcement to issue fines to those drivers.

It is illegal to drive in a bus lane during its hours of operation, regardless of whether or not there are enforcement cameras. However, these restrictions will now be regularly enforced with motorists breaching the restrictions liable to a fixed penalty notice of £60.

Lack of enforcement is no excuse for driving in a bus lane.

Broad Street bus lanes and bus gates operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. General traffic is not permitted to proceed:

In an into city direction or out of city direction through the underpass linking the Broad Street to Hagley Road (buses and trams are the only permitted vehicles)
In an into city direction on Broad Street between its intersection with Sheepcote Street and Berkley Street (buses, trams and taxis (black cabs) are the only permitted vehicles. Bicycles are allowed to use the section from Sheepcote Street to access Granville Street.)
In an out of city direction on Broad Street between its intersection with Berkley Street and its intersection with Granville Street (buses, trams and taxis (black cabs) are the only permitted vehicles)
Through any section of the tram and bus interchange at Centenary Square (buses, trams bicycles, and taxis (black cabs) are the only permitted vehicles)

A plan of restrictions can be found here

Overview

The final section of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension, bringing trams from New Street station to Hagley Road, opened on Sunday 17 July 2022.

A critical part of the Metro scheme was the removal of any waiting or loading area on Broad Street that would obstruct tram and bus services. Our work with local stakeholders, through the Westside Business Improvement District highlighted the need to make changes to the proposals for the side streets close to Broad Street. This was to accommodate night-time economy requirements alongside the loading requirements for the businesses. The informal consultation for this was undertaken in October/November 2022.

This consultation is about the Traffic Regulation Orders (the legal documents required to make changes to the status of the road) required to make permanent changes to these side streets associated with the Westside Metro extension.

We are also advertising other measures to improve safety, and bus and tram journey time reliability in this area. These include:

Harborne Road bus lane operational time changes
Traffic movement changes at the junction of Suffolk Street Queensway and Paradise Street
Traffic movement changes at the junction of Broad Street with Regency Wharf
Traffic movement changes at the junctions of Broad Street with Gas Street
Confirming the prohibition of pedestrian movement through the Five Ways underpass

About this consultation

During this consultation, you can make comments on the proposals or submit a formal objection (which must include the grounds for the objection).

You can make your response in one of three ways:

Submit your response on this webpage, in the ‘Online Survey’ section (please provide your contact details as part of your response)
Write an email to transport.projects@birmingham.gov.uk
Post a written objection to: Assistant Director - Transport & Connectivity, Place, Prosperity & Sustainability Directorate, Birmingham City Council, PO Box 14439, Birmingham, B2 2JE.

The easiest and most convenient way to object is via this webpage.

All responses to the TROs must be received by 11 July 2024.

All responses to the taxi rank amendments must be received by 18 July 2024.

If you have chosen to object to the proposed orders, you may be contacted by a project officer to further discuss your objection.

If you have any questions about this consultation or need help understanding the plans, please contact transport.projects@birmingham.gov.uk

What is included in this consultation?

A Traffic Regulation Order, or TRO, is the legal documentation required to make changes to the status of the highway (road). This consultation is to make residents and businesses aware of the proposals to introduce, and make permanent, TROs in a number of streets.

These TRO proposals are required to complement the tramway system, enabling it to operate as efficiently as possible. Where necessary, proposals are identified on the plans, which can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

A TRO is often accompanied by a plan (map) showing the proposed measures visually.

To balance different needs throughout the day (including at night), the TROs in this consultation include:

loading facilities
opportunities for general traffic, including private hire vehicles, to drop off and pick up only (waiting not allowed)
changes to hackney carriage (black cab) ranks
restriction of pedestrian movement
changes to traffic movements

It also looks to maintain the improved bus journey times along Harborne Road, approaching Five Ways and Broad Street, by proposing to formalise/retain the current additional peak time bus lane operation (a temporary TRO is currently in place).

The TROs in this consultation include four types of change: traffic movements; parking (controlled parking zones); taxi ranks and bus lanes.

Traffic movements Traffic movements

To introduce a no right turn restriction on:

Gas Street at its junction with Broad Street
Regency Wharf at its junction with Broad Street

To remove the existing no right turn from Suffolk Street Queensway (westernmost carriageway) into Paradise Street.

To introduce a no entry restriction into Paradise Street (westbound carriageway) at its junction with Suffolk Street Queensway (westernmost carriageway).

Your browser does not support inline PDF viewing. Please download the PDF.

View traffic movement variation plan (opens in new browser window)

View traffic movement variation TRO (opens in new browser window)

To introduce a prohibition of pedestrians on Five Ways underpass

Your browser does not support inline PDF viewing. Please download the PDF.

View pedestrian movement prohibition plan (opens in new browser window)

View pedestrian movement prohibition TRO (opens in new browser window)