Cleaner buses on the way for West Yorkshire
Cleaner buses on the way for West Yorkshire
Plans to fit emission-reducing clean technology to over 230 of West Yorkshire�s buses have been agreed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority meeting today (Thursday 10 May).
With �4.21 million from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs� (DEFRA) Clean Bus Technology Fund, secured by the Combined Authority and Leeds City Council and over �� million from bus operators, the scheme will see the equipment fitted to around � of the county�s bus fleet.
Managed by the Combined Authority, the scheme is forecast to remove 31 tonnes - the weight of around 19 cars - of harmful nitrogen oxides from buses per year and deliver �3.9 million in reduced environmental and health damage costs over a five- year period.
As part of the project, the buses will be fitted with real-time emission monitoring equipment that will enable the Combined Authority to report the results to provide quarterly reports.
Cllr Keith Wakefield, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority�s Transport Committee said:��By replacing up to 30 individual cars, each bus is already making a significant contribution to the fight against congestion and pollution, which is in line with our Leeds City Region Strategic Economic Plan and West Yorkshire Transport Strategy.
�Now, as a result of successful bids to DEFRA by the Combined Authority and Leeds City Council and contributions by bus operators, we have the opportunity to invest �4.75 million in making the air that people across West Yorkshire are breathing, cleaner.
�This is in addition to the �23.5 million-plus that Arriva Yorkshire, First West Yorkshire and Transdev have invested in new, low-emission vehicles over the past 18 months in line with their Bus18 initiative pledge to reduce harmful emissions.�
Thursday�s meeting of the combined Authority was asked to approve the progress of the scheme, which is scheduled to be completed by March 2019.