The Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority is in the race to be acclaimed ITA of the Year in the National Transport awards with Nexus also nominated for two prizes for its modernisation work.
TWITA has been shortlisted along with West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and West Midlands for the Joe Clarke Integrated Transport Authority award.
Nexus has been shortlisted for Rail Station of the Year for the £20m redevelopment of Haymarket Metro station in Newcastle, while the £7m modernisation project at Sunderland station is in the running for Most Innovative Transport Project.
The awards recognise excellence across the transport industry and rewards innovation and initiatives which have a positive impact upon transport users. The judging panel will focus on the delivery of measures which demonstrate a genuine benefit to the public.
This has been a year of achievement for the ITA and its partners. The opening of the Second Tyne Tunnel is the culmination of almost 15 years work by the ITA to see this vital infrastructure project designed, funded and built.
The £265 million second tunnel will play a huge role in driving economic regeneration on both sides of the Tyne. The year has also heralded the start of Phase Two of the Metro: all change modernisation programme where up to £385 million which will be invested over the next 11 years, funded by the Government.
Whole sections of track are being replaced, stations improved and the Metro carriages refurbished. The ITA and Nexus has introduced a new smartcard called the Pop Card and has been awarded over £5million from Government to reduce congestion on the school run.
The awards ceremony will take place on 6 October at the Lancaster London Hotel with presentation made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Phillip Hammond MP.
Cllr David Wood, Chair of the Integrated Transport Authority said: “I am delighted that our hard work and achievement over the past year has been recognised. It is a testament to the commitment from our partners that we have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. Hopefully we can go one step further and win the award!”
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “It’s great news that Nexus and the ITA have been nominated at such a prestigious award ceremony. The nominations for our projects at Haymarket Metro station and at Sunderland station are especially pleasing because of all the hard work that went into making them a success. They have transformed two key gateways into our region.”