FAQs

The A639 is a key route linking Leeds and Pontefract. As well as serving the main urban areas between east Leeds and Pontefract, the corridor also provides for a number of north-south movements along it, connecting key urban areas such as Lofthouse and Stanley, with other areas including Woodlesford and Oulton to the west and areas such as Normanton and Ackton with Castleford to the east.   

The scheme is being led by both Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The Combined Authority works with local councils and businesses to ensure that everyone in our region benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network. To learn more about the Combined Authority, visit: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/.

The Transforming Travel between Leeds & Pontefract – A639 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 aims 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, £10.9 million was allocated for the Transforming Travel between Leeds & Pontefract – A639 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:  

• 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 by 2036
• make 33 million rail journeys easier by improvements to rail stations
• increase bus, rail, and walking and cycling trips by up to 6%, 4% and 7% respectively by 2036
• reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1.5% / 15,000 tonnes from car travel by 2036
• create more than 1,000 jobs and add up to £1 billion to the economy by 2036
• support connectivity to 650 housing sites and 220 employment sites 

TCF’s ambition is to provide an accessible, attractive and cleaner alternative to car journeys in the Leeds City Region. Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the TCF 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). 

Our proposals aim to:

• improve bus journey times and reliability;
• improve and enhance existing walking and cycling facilities;
• improve accessibility and safety along the route; and
• improve air quality and encourage healthier and more environmentally friendly methods of transport.

The scheme aims to achieve better reliability and deliver faster journey times for buses along the A639, resulting in more reliable services and encouraging more people to travel by bus instead of by car. We are looking to provide new bus lanes to improve bus priority and upgraded junctions, where traffic lights detect traffic and prioritise buses to reduce delay. 

We also have proposals to introduce a transport hub in Rothwell Town Centre which will make it easier to change between bus services, will provide better central waiting facilities and will improve connections to and from Rothwell.

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 traveling on foot and help ensure the traffic is held long enough for them to cross safely. 

There are no new bus stops proposed as part of the scheme. However, some current bus stops may be relocated and/or be upgraded to current standards with longer bays for example. Some bus stop laybys will be replaced with ‘in-lane’ bus stops to prevent buses getting held up by traffic when they stop to drop off and pick up passengers. The scheme is at an early stage of development and this will be determined when undertaking the next design stage with further consultation planned at that point.

A key objective of the scheme is to provide enhanced cycling provision to create a better and safer environment for cyclists along the A639. We are looking to provide enhanced cycle provision between Thwaite Gate and the M1 Junction 44 roundabout.  We are also looking to provide enhanced cycle provision at ASDA, Glasshoughton and the A645 Southgate in Pontefract Town Centre. This will help to make cyclists feel safer travelling along these busy routes and encourage more people to cycle in the area.

As part of the consultation, we will engage with local cycle groups. As the scheme is still in its early stages, we would like to hear your thoughts on this to help us develop the plans.

The provision of new bus and cycling infrastructure is achieved by narrowing traffic lanes, and in some locations the removal of a general traffic lane is required to accommodate a bus lane. Some of the right turn pockets on Pontefract Road may also need to be removed. Extensive modelling will be undertaken to clearly define the impacts of this on car users and journey times.

The proposed bus and cycle facilities will be designed to ensure 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.

There are proposals for a transport hub in Rothwell. This will make it easier to interchange between different bus services, and between different types of transport. Bus services in Rothwell would serve one central ‘hub’ and Commercial Street can then become pedestrianised. This will provide improved connectivity to a broader range of destinations, central waiting area and information point, improved landscaping and incorporates long stay cycle parking.

The aim of this first consultation phase is to gauge public opinion on the early proposals to improve bus, walking and cycling on the A639 corridor. The next stage of design will include modelling analysis and appraisal, which will then be used with the consultation feedback to develop the scheme further. It is anticipated that Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council will undertake a second public consultation with more detailed plans and quantified benefits / impacts in 2023.

This project is still at an early stage, so some of the detail of how any changes will affect specific parking spaces or loading bays is not known yet. The plans presented as part of this consultation show where we are looking to: 

• Removing some on-street car parking to create a new cycle route, bus lane or widen the pavement. This might mean there are double yellow lines in places where you can currently park.
• Painting parking bays for each car on the street to provide dedicated spaces.
• Reallocating part of Marsh Street Car Park to become a Transport Hub which would result in a loss of car parking spaces.

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 A639 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.  

At this stage it is anticipated that the majority of the construction works can take place within the existing highway boundary or land owned by Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council. For a number of the proposals to be delivered, some minor land acquisition may be required, however this will be confirmed as the design progresses. Any affected landowners would be contacted directly by the project team.

This consultation is only about the proposals for this project. The best way to report an issue with a road or cycle path is by directly contacting the Leeds City Council Highways Maintenance team by clicking on this link (opens in a new tab) or the Wakefield  Council Highways Maintenance team by clicking on this link (opens in a new tab).

The Transforming Travel between Leeds & Pontefract – A639 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 achieve this primarily by encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use the bus, through making these options more reliable, attractive and achievable. Green infrastructure (such as trees, landscaping and sustainable drainage) will also be utilised where appropriate. This will reduce congestion and improve air quality by encouraging more environmentally friendly methods of travel.

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 A639, 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.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2023 and is due to complete in 2024. Once we have more detailed designs, a contractor will be appointed who will firm up the construction dates. Local residents and road users will be notified in advance of any works along the route. 

Due to the nature of the construction work needed to build the scheme, unfortunately some disruption is inevitable. However, we will aim to minimise this by coordinating with other projects planned in the city and communicating details with residents and road users well in advance, so that people can plan their journeys accordingly. Work will also be completed in phases to minimise disruption.

As part of the construction preparation, a communications plan will be produced to outline how potential impacts will be communicated to the public.

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.

You can see our proposals in more detail, by clicking on this link (opens in new tab)  Here you can look through our consultation materials, including maps of the scheme, and fill out our response form.

We are also hosting a number of events. Our team will talk through the proposed improvements and answer your questions about the project. 

The public consultation is open from 4 July 2022 until 14^th August 2022. What if I have a question or concern about a specific place in a Zone, or about a specific idea suggested in the proposals?  
  
 We encourage you to take part in the survey and record your thoughts there in questions about the relevant Zone. You can also contact the project team via the YourVoice email inbox (yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk) or ask us a question using the Q&A tool at the bottom of the project page, and we will get back to you with a reply. 

Anyone can take part. Please tell your friends and family about it. Whether you live in, work in, or visit the communities along this route between Leeds and Wakefield, your views are valuable to help us develop our ideas.  

Please share the project page with anyone you think would be interested in taking part in the public consultation. 

You can submit a joint response on behalf of a group or organisation, please do so by emailing yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Please also share the link with your colleagues or members so they have the opportunity to provide an individual response, should they wish to do so. 

We are hosting a number of events. Our team will talk through the proposed improvements and answer your questions about the project. 

We want to understand how people are currently travelling, and what their thoughts are on the current ideas for improvements to bus travel whilst also making walking and cycling easier and safer along the A639. All feedback gathered from the public consultation will be analysed and will be used to inform the development of the proposals where possible. There will be another consultation on these more detailed plans in 2023. 

The proposals as presented are at an early stage of development. We want to know what people think now before we do more detailed design work. It is anticipated that there will be further consultation on more detailed designs sometime in 2023.

All personal information (such as age, postcode, gender) you provide will be anonymised and only used for analysis of the key findings and trends in this consultation. When we look at the feedback, we separate it by things like age and gender which helps us to understand how ideas may affect different groups of people. This helps us to develop our ideas.

It is anticipated that there will be another public consultation in 2023. This will provide you with an opportunity to find out more about the proposals and provide your feedback on these. As the project progresses, there will be further public engagement for you to learn more and have your say.

Details of the TCF consultations can be found at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.  You can get in touch with the Combined Authority’s Consultation and Engagement team via YourVoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk, 0113 245 7676 or Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA).  Please note that, due to COVID-19, the majority of the Combined Authority’s staff are working from home and there will therefore be significant delays in receiving any postal contributions. If you can, please contact the team using another method to ensure a quick response. 

Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council are consulting on this scheme to understand public opinion before undertaking more detailed design and analysis. The analysis will incorporate feedback from this first consultation and include: 

• Further junction modelling using computer software to determine benefits and potential impacts on user journey times;
• Wider benefits and impacts relating to people shifting to sustainable modes of transport (such as walking, cycling and public transport), safety improvements, public open space and landscaped grass or planted areas;
• Continued discussions with key stakeholders such as local Councillors, businesses, resident groups, landowners and local action groups; and
• Appraisal to help determine whether the proposals offer ‘value for money’ against defined Department for Transport criteria

Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council will undertake further public consultation once designs have been progressed and more detailed information can be provided. This second phase of consultation is expected to take place in 2023.

You can contact us via email at yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or call us on 0113 245 7676 (Metroline Contact Centre).

Provide your contact information by clicking on the ‘sign up’ banner on the side of the project page. You will receive information by email about the project. For more information on the project visit Leeds City Council’s ‘Connecting Leeds’ website by clicking this link (opens in a new tab) or Wakefield Council’s website by clicking this link (opens in a new tab). 

For social media updates on this project and other schemes being delivered by Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council, follow us on: Twitter: @ConnectingLeeds @MyWakefield | Facebook: Search ‘Connecting Leeds’ and ‘Wakefield Council’.

The programme is being delivered over the next three years, up to the end of 2025.   

The Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authority colleagues from Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York councils on the programme.  

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

Schemes are at different stages, right through from the development of business cases and designs, to gearing up for public consultation, with construction having started on the new Halifax Bus Station and White Rose Rail Station in Leeds.  

Find out more information at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF 

The programme is being delivered over the next three years, up to the end of 2025.  

The impact of COVID-19 on the region and its economy means 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. 

Although it is generally expected that people’s behaviour will return to the pre-pandemic position in the medium and long-term, the impact on travel into and around towns and cities will be assessed as part of every scheme’s appraisal and any assumptions made to address issues identified prior to the pandemic will be re-tested.

It will build on the significant investment already made through the Combined Authority’s other programmes, such as the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, Connecting Leeds and CityConnect.

Many of the  schemes provide enhancements or extensions to the projects being delivered through these programmes, helping to spread the benefits across a wider geography.  

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.   

For more information about the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund visit westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund 

For more information about Connecting Leeds visit leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/connecting-leeds-and-transforming-travel 

For more information about CityConnect visit cyclecityconnect.co.uk 

Find out more information about the Transforming Cities Fund programme at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF  

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.   

As part of the bidding process, the Combined Authority was asked to develop a series of schemes, which could be delivered under three different cost scenarios.  Each scheme needed to meet the Combined Authority’s priorities, as well as objectives set out by the DfT, such as reducing carbon emissions, and increasing capacity for commuters with better access to employment centres, especially from disadvantaged communities. 

Schemes put forward by local authorities were scored against the objectives before being reviewed as a programme.  Once agreement had been reached between local authority and Combined Authority officers, the programme was signed off by each of the leaders, as well as members of the Combined Authority’s Transport Committee.  

The bid was led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with the 10 local authorities across the Leeds City Region. It was developed in two stages, with a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) submitted to the DfT in June 2019. The final bid was submitted to the DfT in November 2019. The bid documents can be found at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF  

The bid was developed in partnership with local authorities across the Leeds City Region, including Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York. The bid was also co-developed with the DfT, which provided feedback on the plans as they emerged.  In line with other Mayoral Combined Authorities, we are required to feedback on the progress of the programme’s delivery.  

Details of the TCF consultations can be found at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.  You can get in touch with the Combined Authority’s Consultation and Engagement team via YourVoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk, 0113 245 7676 or Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA).  Please note that, due to COVID-19, the majority of the Combined Authority’s staff are working from home and there will therefore be significant delays in receiving any postal contributions. If you can, please contact the team using another method to ensure a quick response.

Find out more information about the Transforming Cities Fund programme at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF   

The bid was led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with the 10 local authorities across the Leeds City Region. It was developed in two stages, with a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) submitted to the DfT in June 2019. The final bid was submitted to the DfT in November 2019. The bid documents can be found at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF   

The bid was developed in partnership with local authorities across the Leeds City Region, including Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York. The bid was also co-developed with the DfT, which provided feedback on the plans as they emerged.  In line with other Mayoral Combined Authorities, we are required to feedback on the progress of the programme’s delivery.