Plans for up to £177 million of new sustainable travel schemes from Devolution Deal to go before the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee

Plans for up to £177 million of new sustainable travel schemes are among the items to be considered by members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee on Tuesday 1 September.

26 August 2020

Plans for up to £177 million of new sustainable travel schemes are among the items to be considered by members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee on Tuesday 1 September.

The schemes will be delivered through Leeds City Region’s £317 million Transforming Cities Fund - a major new programme of investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal earlier this year, which will deliver transformational infrastructure helping create a step change in travel.

Among the schemes members will be asked to progress is a package of improvements worth up to £33.2 million for people travelling by bus, bike and on foot to, and within, Bradford city centre, including Jacobs Well roundabout from Manchester Road and access between Bradford Interchange and Forster Square train stations.    

Wider plans for Bradford include a scheme worth up to £32.7 million for a new Park and Ride near the M606 in the south of the city, with improvements to bus journey times and reliability, and a segregated cycle route along Manchester Road. 

A scheme worth up to £19.3 million to improve access to Bradford Interchange and a new 7km segregated cycle route worth up to £17.5 million along Thornton Road into the city centre in a scheme also feature.

Other items include a scheme worth up to £19.6 million to refurbish Dewsbury Bus Station, and improve the town centre and Ring Road for people travelling by bike and on foot, as well as a £16 million scheme to upgrade Heckmondwike bus hub, improve bus priority along the A638 and provide cycle links to the Spen Valley Greenway.

A £7.4 million scheme to improve access to Brighouse and Elland rail stations for people travelling on foot and by bike, a £15.8 million scheme to redevelop Halifax Bus Station and a package of measures worth up to £15.5 million to make it easier for people across West Yorkshire to travel by bus will also be presented to members.

Cllr Denise Jeffery, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee and Leader of Wakefield Council, said:

“We want to reduce car journeys across West Yorkshire by 3.5% by 2027 and these important schemes will help us achieve this. 

“From connecting people across our region, to reducing air pollution and congestion, and combatting physical inactivity and obesity, we know increasing the numbers of people choosing to travel by bike or on foot has a vital role to play in making West Yorkshire a great place to live and work.

“This work is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health, transport and economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”

Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said:

“Our Transforming Cities Fund will be building on the significant investment we’ve already made with a new programme of transformational infrastructure, helping to create a step change in travel across our region and dramatically improve access to cycling, walking and public transport.

“Building on the significant investment we’ve already made, our Transforming Cities Fund schemes will improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people, helping us to create a step change in travel across the Leeds City Region.

“The Combined Authority is committed to leading the economic recovery from the recent pandemic and it is crucial that we accelerate schemes to help create new employment opportunities and support supply industries.”