Combined Authority leaders approve �7.5m Transport Fund spend

Over �7.5m of funding to accelerate the delivery of transport schemes designed to accelerate growth and create jobs was approved by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at its meeting on Thursday 4 February.

Projects being taken forward as a result of last week�s meeting include:

• the A629 Corridor Improvement Scheme to reduce journey times between Halifax and Huddersfield and improve access in Halifax town centre to support local economic development and employment opportunities, reduce congestion and transform the town centre.
• Glasshoughton Southern Link Road, which will provide access to land allocated in Wakefield�s Local Development Framework for development.
• widening A650 Tong Road - one of Bradford�s most congested roads � to reduce journey times and improve cycling and pedestrian facilities.
• rail station car park extensions schemes at Fitzwilliam, Horsforth, Mytholmroyd, South Elmsall and Hebden Bridge, Menston, Mirfield, Morley, Normanton, Shipley and Steeton & Silsden in a second stage to add 800 new park and ride spaces to the 2,500 already available on the West Yorkshire�s rail network.
• improved links to Leeds Bradford Airport.
• development of a �masterplan� of improvements at Bradford Interchange to support city centre regeneration.
• detailed designs and planning work to improve traffic at Leeds� Armley Gyratory and M621 Junctions 3 and 4, which are part of a wider package of improvements designed to promote a cleaner, safer, less traffic-dominated environment in the city centre, enhance access to the rail station and ensure that Leeds is �HS2-ready�.

Transport Fund

These are among the 26 schemes being developed through West Yorkshire Combined Authority�s �1bn, 10-year Transport Fund Programme, forecast to create up to 20,000 jobs across the City Region. Funding for the schemes is through the �1bn Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal from the Government�s Local Growth Fund.

Cllr Peter Box, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said:

�West Yorkshire Combined Authority is committed to improving the economy and enhancing the quality of life for everyone in West Yorkshire and York. We have already achieved some significant improvements to the transport network, such as the new rail station at Apperley Bridge, new southern entrance at Leeds Station, the new Castleford Bus Station and Heckmondwike Hub.

"These Transport Fund schemes will make a significant impact in helping people reach new job opportunities more easily. Work on �30m-worth of earlier approved schemes such as the Wakefield Eastern Relief Road is well underway, and further projects are being developed for funding by the five West Yorkshire districts and York.

�By helping create around 18,000 new jobs over the next 10 years and increasing economic output by �1bn per year, the Fund is key to increasing economic prosperity and sustainability.�

Cllr Keith Wakefield, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority�s Transport Committee, said:

�Good transport links underpin economic growth by improving links between businesses, their suppliers and their workforces as well as unlock land for development and the creation of new housing.

�These are all important schemes focused on local improvements that ensure we get the most out of the existing network.�