Transport around Leeds has received millions to become more sustainable

Connecting Leeds, a campaign set up by the city’s council, has transformed transport around Leeds following a £273m investment from the Transport Investment Programme. 

Launched in 2018, Connecting Leeds was created to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and improve air quality. The council, through Connecting Leeds, has worked alongside local businesses, stakeholders and transport operators to ensure travel around the West Yorkshire City becomes more sustainable and improves Leeds decarbonisation goals. 

Improvements to transport include:

• Newly built and expanded park and ride services
• Almost 1000 new real-time information boards have been installed at bus stops alongside colour coded bus network tube maps
• Developments on rail stations in the city
• Better connectivity between the A61 South and A647 between Leeds and Bradford to increase connectivity and reduce bus travel times.

Previously, Connecting Leeds was awarded £173.5m by central government for investment in public transport and since partnering with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council has delivered significant improvements to buses in particular. 

Bus operators across the city have introduced new low-emission buses which offer audio and visual stop announcements, free WIFI, improved seating and contactless payments.

Cllr Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate said: ‘In 2016, we started our biggest-ever transport conversation in which over 8,000 people told us what’s important to them and for Leeds. 

‘After working together in partnership for six years and completing this unprecedented number of projects, we’ve come to an end of this phase of our transport development.

‘I’m delighted and proud to have experienced the completion of so many schemes across Leeds – from the UK’s first fully solar powered Stourton park and ride site to the wider pavements and bus priorities along the Headrow.

‘I’m really pleased to see new areas of public realms as part of these transport schemes, with new space for biodiversity and people to relax.’

Nigel Foster, Director of Fore Consulting and Chair of the Leeds Transport Advisory Panel, said: ‘The Connecting Leeds programme aims to build on this investment to further improve movement and accessibility for our communities and businesses.

‘Providing better and more sustainable transport choices is central to our economic outcomes and our decarbonisation goals and achieving the social and environmental ambitions of Leeds to be an inclusive place that creates opportunities for everyone to thrive.’

Photo by Sandy Ravaloniaina