ATRANSPORT masterplan for Greater Manchester has been revealed by town hall bosses in the wake of the failed congestion charge scheme.
A wish-list of road and rail projects has been drawn up by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), the umbrella group of the region's 10 council leaders.
But the plan, which could cost up to £1.37bn, would mean a rise in council tax as town halls struggle to find funding.
Eighteen projects have been placed in a list of priorities for delivery.
Many were part of the doomed bid for nearly £3bn from the government's transport innovation fund - thrown out in a referendum because it would have come with a congestion charge of up to £5 a day.
But four projects have been binned due to lack of money, including Metrolink extensions to Trafford Park and Oldham town centre.
New tram lines between Chorlton and East Didsbury, Droylsden and Ashton and to Rochdale town centre are on the list of priorities.
So is the Mottram bypass, Stockport's relief road, various park-and-ride schemes, part of a cross-city bus package in Manchester and the controversial Leigh guided busway.
A Metrolink extension to the airport, Wigan relief road and interchanges in Altrincham and Bolton are lower down the list and will only be delivered if sufficient funds can be raised.
Council leaders will decide on one of three funding options to raise cash for the schemes, with 10 being delivered under the first scenario - costing just over £1bn - 11 under the second, at £1.2bn, and 14 under the third at £1.37bn.
Every council would have to agree to a rise in council tax bills.
But AGMA officers say that would be no more than £2.60 a year.
To fund the plan, councils will have to give up a slice of their individual transport budgets, apply for extra funds from region-wide bodies and ask the government to speed up money due to Greater Manchester.
Construction on the first Metrolink extensions would start as soon as September.
The plan could create 21,000 extra jobs by 2021 and already has the backing of the Department for Transport, a meeting of AGMA heard last week.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, said he wanted to push for the £1.37bn deal. "It is important we are aspirational," he said.
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£1.3bn transport wish-list
May 11, 2009
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
citycentre, manchester (11/05/2009 at 12:25)
FrostySnowman (11/05/2009 at 12:44)
Black Flag (11/05/2009 at 12:50)
There are about 2.5million people in Greater Manchester, so even if we all had a house each, that would still only equate to £6.5million per year, which is a drop in the ocean when you're talking about schemes running into billions of pounds.
Audenshaw Bob (11/05/2009 at 12:52)
Just goes to show that you can't trust a word that a politician says. Most people knew that there would be a plan B so voted no.
A little bit on my council tax is fine, better than £1200 extra in penalties just to drive to town and spend money in the shops. Anyway, most people I know boycotted town anyway and shop in Aston, Rochdale, Hyde and the like. They don't want me and my car there so I don't bother so much. Apart from Saturday that is I met some mates in town then got the train to Marple at 6pm. What a tip! The carriages stunk and there was litter everywhere. I chose then seat with the least litter on it, wiped the crisps off the seat and on the table was a tissue full of snot, more crisps, a quarter can of coke rolling around and the floor was sticky. Meanwahile I have a woman arguing with her boyfriend, a bloke sat next to me and lit up. I stunk when I got off that train.
On the way back que the foul mouthed drunk 13 year old.
It was a zoo. That's is why unless I am on the pop, I drive.
Guten Tag, Manchester (11/05/2009 at 14:27)
Jay B, oldham (12/05/2009 at 09:41)
i do wonder what the leader of Manchester council expenses are like? i do hope these come out soon!
why is he still here after the failed attempt to force the con charge on us and the fact he staked his career on it getting passed! he isn't fit for anything!
this scheme sounds a little fairer though! near enough everyone pays directly! as long as it is just the so called £2.60 a year they say it is. but i doubt it!
they'll have the same people working this out who predicted the £20 id cards price.
JoeStalin,Gorton (12/05/2009 at 13:16)
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (12/05/2009 at 13:40)
Audenshaw Bob: "What's this, a plan B?"
Jay B: "Oh look! a back up plan! even though they said there wasnt one!"
It seems the schemes are just picked from TIF, so it's hardly a Plan B, more like Plan A spread over 30 years instead of 5. As I predicted late last year.
Jay B, oldham (12/05/2009 at 14:10)
we where told it was that or nothing! hooh the loons words exactly!
and then this pops up!
as we're finding out! what mps say and mean and do are all totally different!
citycentre, manchester (12/05/2009 at 14:42)
whatever you predicted, we were told, on numerous occasions, that is was TIF or nothing, and there was no plan B, not that we could vote yes for something now, or have it later if we voted no.
Iain Lindley, Walkden (12/05/2009 at 15:05)
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (12/05/2009 at 15:07)
So instead of TIF funding and completing the improvements quickly, we got nothing so the improvements happen over a much longer time and with higher council tax.
It's not that hard to understand?
Jay B, oldham (12/05/2009 at 15:26)
its just now all of us pay for it once. not twice.
these schemes where draughted up because of the TIF. if the TIF didnt happen then we where told they'd be on the scrapheap!
as for the leigh busway. its an old railway line! just put trains or trams back on! leave the oldham line as a railway and give it to them! that would be much simpler! i've said that one before too!
Black Flag (12/05/2009 at 15:39)
Ok, if you're so knowledgeable, where will the other £1billion come from that isn't covered by Council Tax?
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (12/05/2009 at 15:45)
It was never the case the schemes were for the scrapheap, unless you can evidence that Jay. It seems you're re-writing history now.
Jay B, oldham (12/05/2009 at 16:38)
Hoon said there was no plan b to central government funding! this is manchester alone sorting ourselves out and not being tied into any debt to the government! i think i prefer that!
and anyway these things take time! you cannot rush things like this as you need to eliminate idotic bits like oldhams town centre section!
and black flag i did say that they'll have the same lot of finiancial advisors as the id cards scheme. the figures are a little vauge!
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (12/05/2009 at 16:43)
Jay B, oldham (12/05/2009 at 17:02)
Black Flag (12/05/2009 at 17:17)
Come on then, tell us what the solution is.
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (12/05/2009 at 17:27)
You are right in saying congestion is man-made Jay: too many cars.
chriso, manchester (12/05/2009 at 19:43)
they should be looking at ways to reduce the council tax not up it.
they brag about how much speed cameras take, millions if im not mistake.
theres your money go and get it!
Phil L, Denton (12/05/2009 at 19:47)
citycentre, manchester (12/05/2009 at 20:12)
while i generally agree with your statements on PT, it is clearly no fact to say we were told all along that in the event of a no vote to TIF, the improvements would be available anyway, just over a longer time frame; for example a search of this website reveals the following statements
Sir Richard Leese "said the choice was between a 'revolution' in trams, buses and trains, or 'absolutely nothing " and
"And what do we get for a no?" he asked. "If we get a no, then we get absolutely nothing."
note absolutly nothing, not something, but slower, and twice, at a public debate in novemeber
Dan Hodges, director of the Yes Campaign "there is no Plan B. No congestion charge, no public transport improvements"
again pretty clear that one, from early november.
Lis Phelan in the guardian " The outcome of a no vote is very clear – Greater Manchester will not get the additional funding needed to transform its public transport system. It is as simple as that – there is no alternative route, no two bites at the cherry, no chance to go back to the drawing board"
and Goeff Hoon "Mr Hoon told the M.E.N there was no `Plan B'. He said: "If there was a `no' there would be no central government funding."
all pretty clear, and it would seem misleading or even untrue
AAA, Davyhulme (13/05/2009 at 00:07)
2] BUT looking at the priority list it looks like a more “value for money” approach. The link to the Trafford Centre always was a white elephant; the link to the airport of dubious value.
3] Where is the money coming from…. ?
Nottingham has had the plans to extend their tram system “accepted” but of the £ 400 M required only £ 300 M will come from the Government §. The suggestion is that Nottingham Council should use the existing legislation allowing a tax on car parking spaces in company car parks to raise the other £ 100 M.
§ Note the acceptance of a plan did not mean a promise to find the money.
Rammylad (13/05/2009 at 08:37)
£2.60 just isn't going to cover the costs of the work. Also it is good to see that we are effectively getting the TIF improvements but instead of it costing £3bn it is only costing us £1.3bn. How odd that Richard Leease told us the con charge set up costs were only £300m when clearly the difference between TIF and plan B is a whopping £1.7bn.