FAQs

The scheme is funded by the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). The Leeds City Region TCF is a major programme of investment that aims to deliver transformational new transport infrastructure in West Yorkshire. It aims to deliver changes to how people travel across the region by improving our streets. It is an important part of our aim to reduce the number of car journeys to help meet a commitment to become a net zero carbon city region by 2038. It is being delivered by the Combined Authority in partnership with local authorities and is funded through £317 million from the Department for Transport, plus local match funding of up to £140 million. 

In March 2020, £11.6 million was allocated for the Transforming Travel between Leeds & Wakefield – A61 scheme. The project is not funded by Council Tax, nor will the funding allocations impact other Council funding streams. 

The scale of what we can deliver on this corridor is dependent on the funding available. The proposals in this consultation exceed the funding allocated from the Transforming Cities Fund. The schemes that are taken forward, and the designs of these schemes, will be influenced by your feedback.  

In partnership with local authorities, the Combined Authority will deliver transformational infrastructure, which will dramatically improve people’s access to walking, cycling and public transport. It is estimated TCF will:   

The very latest traffic signal equipment makes use of sensors and other features to improve traffic flow. They can be used to detect live traffic build up and adjust the ‘green time’ available to help reduce congestion. They can also be used to detect buses as they approach a junction and any traffic signals. They may bring the timing of a green light forward or extend a green light to help the buses keep moving and stay on time.   

The priority offered to buses helps recognise that at busy times they may be carrying 60+ people and helping take a lot of vehicles off the roads. The same signals can also be used to detect when people are waiting to cross when travelling on foot and help ensure the traffic is held long enough for them to cross safely.  

A key objective of the scheme is to provide dedicated cycling facilities to create a better route for cyclists along the A61, allowing them to keep their distance from traffic and helping them to feel safer and more confident. We are also looking to provide upgraded facilities at junctions such as better crossings at a number of different locations along the A61 in both Leeds and Wakefield. These improvements aim to encourage more people to cycle in the area to improve health and wellbeing whilst also taking more traffic off the roads. 

As the scheme is still in its early stages, we would like to hear your thoughts on this to help us develop the plans. 

In some locations, the provision of new bus and cycling infrastructure is achieved by narrowing traffic lanes and in some locations the reallocation of a general traffic lane is required to accommodate bus lanes and cycle lanes. Extensive modelling will be undertaken to clearly define the impacts of this on car users and journey times.  

Whilst the core aim of the scheme is to encourage more people to travel by bus and cycling, the improvements should also result in more cars being removed from the road network as more people who can choose alternative ways to travel, reducing reliance on cars and easing existing levels of congestion. 

The proposed bus and cycle facilities will be designed in line with the latest design recommendations from the Department for Transport, which will ensure that safe access to properties as well as to parking (where remaining / existing / proposed) is provided.   

All access to properties will be maintained. Any changes in routing / proposed one-way streets may mean that your route will be slightly different, but access to all properties and shops will be maintained.  

The feedback we receive will be used to shape and further develop the proposals in the next design stages. If the proposals change significantly then further consultation will be required with stakeholders and the public. Wherever blue badge parking exists we will look to keep it in the same place or very close nearby.   

We know that there are lots of businesses along the A61 and each may have its own arrangements in terms of loading and unloading. The consultation gives business owners and those serving businesses a chance to comment on the proposals and identify where, if anywhere, they have concerns relating to this issue.   

The scheme is one of a number of city-wide and regional-wide transport improvement projects that will help achieve Leeds City Council, Wakefield Council and the Combined Authority’s vision of becoming carbon net zero.  

The scheme will address the Climate Emergency by encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use the bus, as these methods of travel become more reliable, attractive and achievable. New trees and other planting will complement the scheme proposals where possible to make the streets greener and more pleasant for people walking and cycling. 

We do not currently anticipate any significant road widening, which will limit potential impacts on green spaces and trees.  

Our proposals also include landscape improvements along the A61, aiming to enhance the local environment and improve local green space, providing more pleasant journeys for those walking and cycling. 

We will have a better understanding of the scheme’s impact on local green spaces and trees following further studies undertaken as part of the detailed design stage of the project. However, where we are aware of an impact on local green space, we are committed to providing replacement green space as close to the removed sections as possible.  

The phasing of roadworks on the public highway still needs to be planned. Nearer the time of construction, local residents and businesses will be provided with more information about what will happen and where. A Construction Management Plan will be developed to minimise the impacts of construction activities on local residents, businesses and visitors. 

We will keep residents and stakeholders informed as the project progresses. 

Providing an accessible, attractive and cleaner alternative to car journeys is at the heart of Leeds City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) - a major new programme of transport infrastructure investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal. 

The programme will be funded through £317 million from the Department for Transport (DfT) plus local match funding of up to £140 million.   

In partnership with local authorities, the Combined Authority will deliver transformational infrastructure, which will dramatically improve people’s access to walking, cycling and public transport. 

It is estimated TCF schemes will improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people, take up to 12 million car trips per year off our roads and reduce CO2 emissions from car travel by up to 15,000 tonnes by 2036.   

Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the schemes, which include new or improved bus and rail stations, cycling and walking infrastructure, and new Park and Rides.  You can find out more about the programme on the Combined Authority’s website by clicking here (opens in a new tab).

It is estimated TCF will: 

As part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, the Combined Authority secured £317 million from the DfT’s TCF programme to deliver schemes in the low-cost scenario. 

Since then, the Combined Authority has approved the use of future gain share funding, alongside other income streams, to deliver the high-cost scenario up to an additional £140 million.   

This additional funding will help us deliver more transport improvements, which will benefit communities across West Yorkshire.  

This work is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038. 

We need to reduce car trips by 21% and increase cycling trips by 2,000%, walking trips by 78%, bus strips by 39% and rail trips by 53% if we are to achieve our ambitious net zero targets in this time frame.  

The programme will connect people to economic and education opportunities through accessible, affordable, attractive and cleaner transport, boosting productivity and helping to create healthier and happier communities for the future.   

Through the programme and building on the significant progress already made, we are working in partnership to transform our town and city centres for walking and cycling, improve bus reliability and journey times, and investing in our region to prepare for HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade. 

Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the schemes, which include new or improved bus and rail stations, cycling and walking infrastructure, and new Park and Rides. 

The programme is focused on connecting people in the communities of greatest economic need with job and training opportunities.  This will, in turn, help boost productivity, living standards and air quality.    

There are 22 packages of schemes, comprising between 30 and 35 individual projects, within the overall programme. 

Different schemes are at different stages, right through from the development of business cases and designs, to gearing up for public consultation, with construction already started at Halifax Bus Station redevelopment Find out more information at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF(External link)  

To date, there has been minimal impact of the programme as a result of COVID-19.  The majority of the projects are at the early stages of development and much of the work required can be carried out virtually.   As the schemes move to the next stage of delivery, we will continue to monitor the impact and identify any risks to delivery.   

We are also looking at best practice ways of delivering public consultations and engagement activity to ensure all members of the community get the opportunity to have their say on TCF schemes during COVID-19.   

The full implications of COVID-19 on the region, the economy and the transport system are still to be understood and the impact on the Combined Authority’s programmes and schemes to date has been mixed.  

We are working closely with our local authority partners at every level of our appraisal process to ensure delivery timescales have taken into account the current issues and that each scheme is stress tested to ensure its ongoing viability.  

In the wake of COVID-19 it is more important than ever to assess the changes to the landscapes of our towns and cities, and the impact on current and future planned schemes, particularly, but not exclusively, those relating to transport.  

The impact of COVID-19 in relation to travel behaviour into and around towns and cities is assessed as part of each scheme’s appraisal.  

While public transport patronage is currently lower than pre COVID-19 levels, it remains a priority to invest in public transport infrastructure to both help with economic recovery and to have the required infrastructure in place to respond to an increase in demand post-COVID-19.