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PLANS to revolutionise and reinvigorate the public transport map will now go to Government after local politicians today (THURS) approved the Project Orpheus business case. Nearly 25 years from the date the Metro opened, the Passenger Transport Authority considered proposals on how to take Project Orpheus forward for the NEXT 20 YEARS in terms of the key issue of the reinvigoration of Metro. They were told by Nexus that Metro needs investment over the next 20 years, not just to keep it operating safely and to the standards set in 1980, but it needs to be able to attract the car user of 2005 and 2015 if Nexus is to halt the inexorable rise in congestion. The PTA agreed and now the detailed business case for Metro reinvigoration, which was endorsed and supported by the five leaders of the five local authorities of Tyne and Wear earlier this month, can be submitted to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling next month. Mike Parker, Director General of Nexus, told politicians: “This business case is the end product of three years of hard work which now gives us a package to take to government which enjoys the support of the partner authorities. “Project Orpheus is about a step change in the quality of Metro and critically what Orpheus is about is the future of Metro and all the Nexus staff who work for Metro. If Metro thrives our jobs are secure, if Metro declines, which without the investment we are advocating it will, then the future becomes less certain.” Nexus says that private sector contributions will be vital to the success of the business case and that they will be going to the market later this year to see where and how the private sector can contribute. Mike Parker, added: “We now have the support of all the 5 Councils in Tyne and Wear and its MPs. We also need to ensure that local community groups, politicians elsewhere in the North East region and regional business leaders are behind us if we are to persuade Ministers that our case is strong and investment should come to the North East rather than elsewhere.” Any groups or organisations that would like someone from Nexus to come and explain Project Orpheus and its proposals for Metro reinvigoration should telephone 0191 203 3229. For details about Orpheus log onto www.projectorpheus.com.
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