Connecting Leeds work to transform transport and travel around Leeds has been completed following the unprecedented £270 million Leeds Transport Investment Programme.
After the start of the programme in 2018, the vision for Connecting Leeds was to deliver a transformational change in the transport network and connectivity across Leeds and the wider region, helping to bring people, places, jobs, learning and leisure closer together. This was to 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.
Building on the £173.5million awarded by government for investment in public transport, Leeds City Council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and further investment by bus operators has delivered significant improvements to the bus network, enhanced facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and transformed the public realm.
A new film ‘a better-connected Leeds’ to capture the transformation that’s taken place over the last four years, has been produced.
Councillor 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. And the fantastic new urban realm spaces around the Corn Exchange Gateway scheme. 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.
“There’s still much more work to do to meet our transport ambitions and that work continues. I would like to thank everyone who has worked on this programme and to the people of Leeds, for their patience whilst construction has taken place in this phase as well as the next stage of transforming for the city.”
The council through Connecting Leeds has worked in partnership with local businesses, stakeholders, and all transport operators in the city, to deliver numerous projects, which has seen the following significant achievements:
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Newly built and expanded park and ride facilities. These include a national award winning Stourton park and ride site with 1,200 spaces, expansion of Elland Road and Temple Green park and ride sites, totalling over 2,000 additional car park spaces.
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Improvements were made along two key corridors on the A61 South / A639 route to and from Stourton, along Pontefract Lane, Hunslet Road and Great Wilson Street and along the A647 Leeds to Bradford route to reduce bus journey times and improve service reliability, together with cycling and walking facilities. Other interventions implemented along corridors include: Alwoodley to Leeds (A61N) Harewood junction and Wigton Lane signal upgrades, A61 Harrogate Road, Potternewton Lane, Holt Lane, Adel (A660) with signal upgrades and bus priority measures along the route.
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Installed almost a thousand new real-time information boards at bus stops, along with a colour coded Leeds Core Bus Network tube map. Making it easier for users to navigate 18 bus lines for services that run every 15 minutes or better. Transforming the look and feel of bus stops with user friendly signage, 2,300 bus stops have received a facelift, greatly enhancing the user experience.
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Bus operators have introduced a fleet of new, low emission state of the art buses. These new eco-friendly buses are offering audio and/or visual next stop announcements, free Wi-Fi, improved seating, and contactless payments.
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Transformation of Leeds Bus Station to create a more modern, welcoming offer for passengers with better arrival and user experience.
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Construction of our ambitious world class gateways accessing the city along the Headrow and at the Corn Exchange – making them more welcoming and appealing entrances for visitors and residents
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Improved connections in communities such as Mabgate, Lincoln Green, Pudsey, Bramley, Middleton, and Rothwell, with improved community walking, cycling and bus facilities
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The investment kick-started development on new rail stations in Leeds. Construction has now started at the White Rose site. Business plans and land purchases have also advanced for Thorpe Park and Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway stations, along with progressing plans for Leeds City Station.
