Midlands Connect (one of England’s seven sub-national transport bodies) is a partnership of LEPs and councils from across the Midlands that have come together to develop and implement a strategic transport strategy for the region. For Head of Strategy, Richard Bradley, the last few years has been a period of redefining the role of transport planning to the more holistic planning of infrastructure for transport, digital and alternative fuels.
At TRANSPORT Smart Class, Midlands 2022, Richard explained how long-term planning for major infrastructure is being transformed to capture all of the Midland’s communities and geographies, with a delivery focus that puts the Midlands at the centre of the green industrial revolution: “Adapting our traditional travel market analysis for our rapidly changing world seems to be the ‘secret sauce’ for kick-starting enhancements to infrastructure and de-risking supply-chains”.
His keynote presentation highlighted how this market analysis can enable sustainable business models motivated by societal benefits as well as profit, and described how short-term delivery is becoming essential for learning-by-doing and scaling alternative fuels, emerging technologies and digital systems. This includes regional demonstrators in the future of rural mobility, digital and technology driven solutions that get the most out of the road network and evolving our use of hydrogen for moving heavy loads long distances. Richard revealed Midlands Connect’s collaborative and scalable approach to delivering a resilient network for recharging electric vehicles and refuelling with alternative fuels. He also illustrated how new approaches to delivery can enable a paradigm shift in behaviour, including the importance of building trust by monitoring the region’s performance.
If you meet our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us on February 24th for the live in-person event at Nottingham Council House, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Richard’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich content from these presentations include commissioning, procurement, trialling and partnering leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers and planners from: local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public and private transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
