Laura Shoaf appointed managing director of Transport for West Midlands
Published: Friday 03 Jun 2016
In one of its final actions before being dissolved the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) has appointed Laura Shoaf to head up Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – the body that will replace it.
In one of its final actions before being dissolved the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) has appointed Laura Shoaf to head up Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) - the body that will replace it.
Laura will become managing director for TfWM which will be the transport arm of the new West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) when it comes into effect next Friday (June 10).
Laura will be responsible for guiding and delivering the combined authority's transport strategy to develop a network that fully integrates the region's road, rail, bus and tram systems.
Her appointment was approved at the final meeting of the ITA whose powers and duties, along with those of its delivery body Centro, will be transferred to TfWM upon the launch of the WMCA.
ITA chair Cllr Roger Lawrence, who is also leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: Laura's experience and knowledge have already served the ITA well.
We believe she is the ideal person to lead TfWM in its work to deliver the combined authority's transport strategy.
Having an effective and affordable transport network is crucial if we are to generate further economic growth and connect people to wider job, training and educational opportunities. Doing so will increase prosperity and ultimately people's quality of life
Laura added: In forming the new combined authority the leaders have set out a very exciting vision for transport and I'm thrilled to be given an opportunity to play a part in that.
There is a lot of hard work ahead but with the wider West Midlands now working together as a combined authority I believe we can realise those ambitions for the benefit of the whole region