December 6 marked the opening of the first extension of the Midland Metro light rail route in Birmingham since the line opened in 1999. The short section including stops at Snow Hill and Bull Street is the first phase of the 1.4 km city centre extension to New Street station. Centro expects to announce a date for completion of the £128m project early next year. Councillor John McNicholas, Chairman of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority's Delivery Committee, says £1.2bn is to be invested in public transport over the next 10 years. Work is beginning on a two-stop extension from New Street to Centenary Square, which is due to be commissioned in 2019, and funding has been earmarked to continue the line via Broad Street and Five Ways to Edgbaston by 2021.
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