A £12 million scheme to speed buses along one of Birmingham's longest and busiest commuter routes may only cut journey times by four-and-a-half minutes. City council transport experts defended the proposed Hagley Road bus showcase scheme, insisting that any improvement in traffic flow would be beneficial. Buses, which carry more than 27,000 passengers a day along the road, could make the outbound journey between seven minutes and 13 minutes faster. The inbound journey time could be cut by between four-and-a-half and seven-and-a-half minutes. A scrutiny committee also heard fears that a bus lane planned for the entire length of Hagley Road may have to be ripped up if the Midland Metro tram extension from Five Ways to Quinton goes ahead. David Bull, head of transport strategy at the council, said the new Metro line could be up and running by 2010. The bus showcase scheme will probably be completed four years earlier. Mr Bull confirmed that a report on the Metro extension would be put before the council cabinet before Christmas. He said the bus showcase scheme, first suggested two years ago, was the council's response to an "immediate" problem along a main arterial route. The £12 million cost has been approved by the Department for Transport, which said the showcase proposal represented good value for money. Edgbaston councillor James Hutchings told the committee he feared the bus lane would deliver negligible improvement in journey times but with a massive cost environmentally. The council intends to issue compulsory purchase orders to acquire several properties and frontages along the Hagley Road. The dwellings will be demolished to make way for the bus lane. More than 50 trees will disappear, although the council has promised to plant twice as many new semi-mature trees in their place. A public inquiry next year will decide whether the bus lane should be built. The scheme, already scaled down in response to local protest groups, would provide no additional capacity for buses or cars, Coun Hutchings (Con) claimed. "This is a bad deal for bus passengers, for motorists, for the environment and the taxpayer," he added. Coun John Tyrrell (Lab, Sandwell), cabinet member for transport, assured the committee that Birmingham was not intent on copying London, where buses are given priority over cars. The capacity of the Hagley Road to accommodate cars would not be diminished by the bus lane, he said. Removing buses from the main carriageway and placing them in a special lane would enable both buses and other vehicles to move more quickly, Coun Tyrrell added. He admitted he was unhappy about aspects of the Hagley Road scheme, particularly the demolition of property and trees. However, on balance, the potential benefit to bus passengers and motorists outweighed environmental considerations. Coun Tyrrell said it was important that a debate about the Metro extension, which might not even take place, did not cloud the issue of Hagley Road in its present congested state. He added: "As far as the Metro is concerned, that needs to be looked at on its own merits. The business case has to be worked out. Everyone will have an opportunity to discuss what is put forward. "If we stop now, will we ever get a modern transport system in Birmingham?" | 
