Completed construction of new bus and cycling lane on York Street

Connecting Leeds has completed construction of a bus lane and better cycling infrastructure on York Street, benefitting thousands of commuters who use the route around the city centre.

The changes to the road configuration will facilitate a reduction in bus journey times. Approximately 50 buses per hour use the route and this scheme reduces delays for bus commuters.

Transport emissions are the largest contributor to air pollution in Leeds and York Street is the first of many projects to improve the bus infrastructure and reduce emissions from cars.

These works are the final part of the Leeds City Centre Cycle Superhighway scheme, which has been delivered by the council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme aimed at encouraging more people to travel by bike and on foot.

The Leeds City Centre Cycle Superhighway connects both the western and eastern sections of the Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway with the city centre, via an extra 4km of segregated routes.

There are plans to add a further 6km of new segregated cycling routes to the city’s growing network through the CityConnect programme.

In addition, the council will soon start to build phase one (4.8km) of the orbital cycle highway, which will run on the outer ring road from Red Hall to King Lane. This forms part of an ambitious city-wide programme, which, led by the council and partners, has set out the ambition to create over 800km (500miles) of network. The city currently has 172km (over 107miles) of cycle network.

The council’s educational work encourages safe and sustainable active travel across the city. Last year, 22,000 pupils benefitted from pedestrian skills and bike ability training.

Connecting Leeds has implemented a long-term transport strategy for Leeds that aims to improve all aspects of travel in the city. By March 2021, Connecting Leeds will see £270 million invested in public transport, which will also encourage active travel, including new cycling routes along key bus corridors and in the city centre.

Leeds City Council’s executive board member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said:

“Efforts to transform the city’s bus and cycle network form part of a wider plan to address the global climate emergency and improve the city’s air quality.

“It is hoped this project, one of many similar interventions being delivered across the city, will encourage people who would previously drive into the city centre to switch to traveling by bus and bicycle.

“Cars, particularly those with only one occupant, clog up the cities roads and emit carbon and other harmful gases and pollutants into the environment.

“Using buses and other forms of public transport help reduce congestion and significantly reduce the carbon and wider environmental impact of transport in the city.”

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

“We are proud to be working in partnership with Leeds City Council to deliver high quality, ambitious infrastructure to encourage more people to leave the car at home.

“Helping more of us travel by bike, on foot and by public transport is key to cutting congestion, improving air quality and contributing to our drive to tackle the climate emergency.”

Martin Hirst, Commercial Director of First West Yorkshire, said:

“We’re pleased to see the York Street bus lane in operation and continue to be a committed partner in helping Connecting Leeds deliver bus travel that builds a stronger local economy.”

“These latest improvements will enable us to move more people, more easily and more quickly to where they need to be, at the time they need to be there. Bus priority is vital in making Leeds a smart city where public transport works for everyone as it allows us to develop timetables that give customers predictable journey times throughout the day.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Connecting LeedsThe vision set out for Connecting Leeds is to deliver a transformational step change in the transport network and connectivity in Leeds and the wider region. It’s aiming to help and support bringing people, places, jobs, learning and leisure closer together. This will be achieved through improvements to road, rail, bus, park and ride, cycling and walking services and infrastructure, reducing congestion and improving air quality and accessibility in Leeds along with utilising the latest technology innovations.

It has been developed from the feedback received in the biggest-ever transport conversation held with residents, businesses, stakeholders and visitors in the city which included more than 8,000 people taking part in a survey in 2016.

For more information go to www.leeds.gov.uk/connectingleeds or @ConnectingLeeds on twitter or through Leeds City Council’s Facebook page.

CityConnect

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme works in partnership with a range of public, private and community organisations to encourage more people to cycle and walk short journeys.

The CityConnect programme has received funding through the Department for Transport-funded Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG) and local match funding – a combined £60m package of works aimed at improving cycling infrastructure across West Yorkshire and York to make cycling and walking the natural choice for short journeys. The programme is delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the five West Yorkshire councils and City of York Council.

The programme is currently developing a package of works to access up to £14.8 million funding through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal - a £1 billion package of Government investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

In partnership with Leeds City Council and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, the team has completed work on the 23km Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, which connects two of Yorkshire’s major cities with a route segregated from traffic.

Communities across West Yorkshire and York are seeing the benefits of new, high quality cycling and walking infrastructure, including Bradford’s Canal Road Cycleway, Leeds’s City Centre Cycle Superhighway, the Castleford Wakefield Greenway, a series of canal towpath upgrades in Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale, and Scarborough Bridge, York.

Through CityConnect, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority also delivers a series of awareness campaigns and engagement initiatives, including support for businesses, schools and grassroots initiatives to boost the number of people travelling by bike or on foot.

For more information visit www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

West Yorkshire Combined Authority works in partnership with local councils and businesses to ensure that everyone in the region benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network. By championing the region’s interests nationally and internationally, the Combined Authority secures the investment to deliver better transport and housing, help businesses to grow and create jobs. For more information visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Vanessa Lancaster

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 01133783690

Email: vanessa.lancaster@leeds.gov.uk