Transport for West Midlands, the transport arm of the WMCA, works with all parts of the combined authority and alongside the seven metropolitan councils to ensure the region benefits from an effective transport system that meets the economic and environmental needs of the West Midlands. Several weeks prior to the current UK lockdown, TfWM’s Transport Strategy and Place Manager, David Harris, joined us at TRANSPORT Smart Class, Midlands 2020 to deliver a discerning keynote that considered:
• The implications of the climate emergency, current targets and current progress;
• The challenge climate change presents for our transport system;
• The policy responses likely to be required;
• The role of technology, innovation and future mobility in the transport policy response.
Although technology undoubtedly has a key role to play in the West Midlands’ Transport Strategy (Future Mobility Zone Programme, 5G Mobility test bed to upgrade sensors across the network, dedicated TfWM Data Insight team etc) a major take away of David’s presentation was that “the Technological fix isn’t enough” and a reminder of futurist Roy Amara’s adage that “We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run”.
Download the presentation slides to learn more!
