CLondoner92 (New Account)<p>The West <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/Midlands" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Midlands</span></a> Combined Authority (WMCA) has approved a £1.2bn budget for 2025/26, focusing on economic growth, housing, jobs, and <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/transport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>transport</span></a> improvements. This includes £204m for jobs, skills, and apprenticeships, £67.7m for social and affordable housing, and £55.7m to support economic growth. A key element is £554.9m for transport, including £84.8m for the Black Country <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/Metro" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Metro</span></a> extension, £36m for zero-emission <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/buses" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>buses</span></a>, and £234.5m for local transport projects like <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/cycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>cycle</span></a> schemes and highway maintenance. The budget also safeguards bus services, with £61.1m allocated for concessionary <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/travel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>travel</span></a>. A focus on improving transport, particularly buses and sustainable travel, aims to better connect communities and reduce emissions.<br><a href="https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/wmca-board-approves-1-2bn-budget-to-drive-growth-jobs-housing-and-better-transport/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">wmca.org.uk/news/wmca-board-ap</span><span class="invisible">proves-1-2bn-budget-to-drive-growth-jobs-housing-and-better-transport/</span></a></p>