IT'S BEEN a good Monday morning for Manchester.
"Today's historic announcement marks a new era for commuters in Greater Manchester, one in which they can look forward to the sort of seamless travel they may have experienced in London moving from the tube to bus."
Not only has the government confirmed a historic devolution deal for the city including a directly-elected Greater Manchester major by 2017, Chancellor George Osborne has just confirmed a new transport deal for Manchester.
The new deal includes a £350 million Metrolink extension through Trafford Park (see here) and the wider roll-out of an Oyster-style travelcard system (titled 'Get Me There') linking Greater Manchester's trams, buses and trains.
The Chancellor unveiled the transport deal on Monday 3 November while visiting Metrolink's newly opened Manchester Airport line (see here).
Chancellor George Osborne on a visit to the new airport line
VIDEO - Proposed Trafford Park line:
Osborne said: "I am delighted to be able to mark the opening of the new Metrolink line to Manchester airport over twelve months ahead of schedule. The network now covers over 92km and is a vital economic asset for Manchester.
"It is also great news that, thanks to the devolution deal I have agreed with Manchester today, there will be a further £350 million extension to Trafford which will provide significant additional benefits to the city. The Metrolink will come under the powers of the new Mayor, supporting an Oyster-style travelcard system that will make traveling on the network and all of Greater Manchester's public transport simpler and easier.
"These are exactly the sort of transport improvements that will not only allow Manchester to prosper and thrive but also help turn our vision of a Northern Powerhouse economy into reality."
The deal also unlocks access to longer-term local transport budgets and provides access to as much as £900 million over 30 years, dependent on economic performance.
The council hope the deal could also open the door for further discussion around the local management of Greater Manchester's local railway stations.
Subject to consultation, the new transport deal could also see a 'London style' system of bus franchising for Greater Manchester.
Proposed Trafford Park line
Osborne meeting Metrolink staff
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: "Today's historic announcement marks nothing less than a new era for commuters in Greater Manchester, one in which they can look forward to the sort of seamless travel they may have experienced in London moving from the tube to bus.
"This deal will, subject to consultation, allow us to move to a model of bus franchising, similar to the system used in London, providing us with the ability to set bus routes, frequencies and fares for the benefit of the people of Greater Manchester.
"The deal also unlocks access to very substantial amounts of transport funding - providing more certainty and the ability to plan ahead. Not only that, it means that we can move ahead with the construction of the Metrolink line through Trafford Park to the Trafford Centre, a scheme which will benefit thousands of people and many businesses in the area.
Following the Chancellor's announcement Transport for Greater Manchester will be developing a detailed implementation plan with the government on behalf of the Combined Authority along with a delivery timeline and full public consultation on bus franchising will take place in due course.
