Mass Transit Interim Director appointed

1 April 2022

Kevin Murray is West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Interim Director of Mass Transit with effect from 11 April 2022.   

Kevin is joining on secondment from Leeds based infrastructure experts Turner & Townsend, whilst the Combined Authority looks to recruit to the permanent position. Kevin has significant experience in the construction industry working on major projects such as the Edinburgh Tram Project, the Edinburgh Airport Rail project and on rail projects such as the Jubilee Line Extension and Thames link Programme.  

The Combined Authority in collaboration with partner councils published the West Yorkshire mass transit vision in January 2021, which offers a new bold and ambitious public transport option for West Yorkshire. Two weeks ago the Government confirmed the £830m ‘City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement’ for West Yorkshire, which included over £100m for developing the mass transit programme.

Over the coming months, Kevin will lead the initial stages of the Mass Transit programme, including the ‘mobilisation’ of the team needed to do the work, and the next phase of the business case work required by the Government.

This appointment marks another positive step forwards for the mass transit programme, which is part of the Combined Authority’s ambition to overhaul the transport network in the region. Alongside cycling, walking, bus and rail, mass transit will be essential to bring people and places closer together.

Welcoming the appointment, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“This is an exciting time for the region as we look at ways to transform the transport network. A new mass transit system in West Yorkshire is going to be a key element linking communities with quick, reliable service, integrated with cycling, walking, bus and rail.

I am confident that Kevin’s appointment will help us deliver a mass transit system that will benefit many generations to come.”

Ben Still, Managing Director of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said:

“This is significant step towards the Combined Authority’s ambitions to bring a mass transit system to West Yorkshire, and I am delighted that Kevin will be joining us at this important time.

Kevin brings a wealth of experience, including working on mass transit in Scotland and I am sure he will provide hugely valuable leadership during this period to get the project going now that it has the financial backing from the Government.”

Mass Transit system

The initial programme of work to develop options for a future mass transit system is funded through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). This £830 million funding was made possible thanks to the Mayoral devolution deal agreed in March 2020.

Bus and cycle corridor improvements, new Park & Ride sites, local cycling and walking schemes, as well as the use of innovative technology including EV charging points, will be delivered over the next 5 years, helping West Yorkshire to achieve net zero by 2038.