Leeds City Council set to reaffirm its commitment to mass transit in West Yorkshire

 At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s Executive Board next Wednesday (14 December), senior councillors will be asked to approve a draft response to the combined authority’s consultation.

Recognising the strategic importance to the council of mass transit and outlining in principle the council’s commitment to the proposals put forward in the combined authority’s vision, the draft consultation response also highlights the importance to the region of delivering a transit system that increases capacity and provides an attractive alternative to car travel.

The response also illustrates how the proposals put forward in the combined authority's mass transit vision offer significant opportunity to further progress key council priorities across Leeds. This includes supporting economic growth by unlocking transport constraints in key growth areas and furthering health outcomes by reducing transport emissions through the development of efficient and sustainable transport provision, and active travel modes.

Senior councillors are also set to make a commitment at the executive board meeting to allocate significant resource to support of the design and delivery of a world class transit system for Leeds and the wider city region as well as pressing for a start on site in late 2020s.

Speaking ahead of the executive board meeting, Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:

“The council’s response clearly outlines our commitment to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver a mass transit system for the entire region, that increases capacity and works alongside already existing cycling, walking, bus, and rail systems to ensure our region has a sustainable public transport system.

“It is also crucial that as we move forward proper consideration is taken in relation to the mass transit corridors identified in the vision, to ensure the opportunity for regeneration and redevelopment offered by the delivery of mass transit is harnessed to benefit local communities.

“We look forward to working with the combined authority to deliver mass transit and realise our long-standing ambition for Leeds to have a fully integrated 21^st century transport network that our city and the wider region needs and deserves.”

-ENDS-

The council’s executive board will meet on Wednesday, December 14. A full copy of the report and consultation response can be seen here.