Report claims transport investment will bring 10,000 jobs

With just one full week of the public consultation on the Future Transport proposals left to run, a new report by Arup says that 10,000 new jobs would be generated as part of the infrastructure investment and operation of the transport system.

Most of these jobs will be in the construction industry and associated supply chains.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Future Transport said: "The need to protect and build the Greater Manchester economy is the central reason for putting forward the Future Transport proposals. Unless we act now both to transform our transport network and to tackle congestion, we believe that Greater Manchester will become less competitive and that 1 in 7 new jobs could be lost.

According to the Arup report, when the vast bulk of the investment is being made between 2009 and 2013, the figure is 5,800 new jobs being created directly and indirectly. In 2013 the inner Manchester congestion charge will begin.

Between 2014 and 2019 a further 3,900 new jobs will be created directly and indirectly, including many on routine maintenance work on the greatly extended transport system, accoring to the report.