TfL and TfWM transporation knowledge-sharing
Sadiq Khan and Andy Street with workers at London’s Traffic Control Centre. Credit: © West Midlands Combined Authority.

Transport for London (TfL) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) have signed a memorandum of understanding for sharing transportation-related knowledge.

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said that the transportation knowledge-sharing pact will allow the companies to learn from each other to improve not only their own transportation problems but also the rest of the UK.

The agreement will allow both areas to deal with major traffic incidents to limit the disruption of large-scale transport projects and reduce congestion as Birmingham plans to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “London and Birmingham face many of the same challenges so I am delighted that the signing of this agreement further strengthens our commitment to work together.

“The agreement covers a range of mutually beneficial areas such as sharing information on how to address and manage any potential impacts around the delivery of major transport projects.”

“Among other things, sharing information will help us better deal with major incidents, manage world-class sporting events and reduce congestion, improving our cities for everyone.”

The agreement covers a range of mutually beneficial areas such as sharing information on how to address and manage any potential impacts around the delivery of major transport projects and working with local businesses and freight organisations to help combine and re-time freight deliveries to reduce congestion.

It will also focus on the analysis of road and public transport flows between the West Midlands and London to improve connectivity and flow of traffic, monitoring developments in ‘Mobility as a Service’, and collaborating to adopt new disruptive technologies in the future.

Additionally, they will work together to improve open-data for developers through online portals such as TfL’s API platform and identify new channels to gather important transport data to increase productivity.

TfL Surface Transport managing director Gareth Powell said: “We can also work together on developing and delivering common policies, like improving air quality and reducing the impact of major transport projects, which will benefit the UK more widely by boosting connectivity in every region.”