FAQs

The scheme is being delivered by Leeds City 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/.  

Connecting Leeds is part of Leeds City Council and aims to transform travel in Leeds for those that live, work and study in or visit the city. Connecting Leeds is helping to deliver the A64 Bus Priority Improvement Scheme, alongside a range of other city-wide improvement schemes that will support the development and strategic growth of Leeds. To find out more, click here.  

The A64 Bus Priority Improvement 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 is being delivered by the Combined Authority in partnership with local authorities and is funded through £317 million from the Department for Transport (DfT), plus local match funding of up to £140 million.  

The project currently has an allocation of £4.98m from TCF to deliver the first phase of improvements. Subsequent phases will be brought forward for development and delivery as and when future funding becomes available.  

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, bus priority measures and cycling and walking infrastructure. 

Several city-wide transport improvement schemes have been progressed alongside the A64 Bus Priority Improvement scheme, aiming to enhance and upgrade transport infrastructure in Leeds. These schemes will complement proposals to improve the A64, enabling better connections in the region and helping achieve major strategic growth for the city. 

Examples of these wider improvements include the East Leeds Extension (ELE), the East of Leeds Orbital Route (ELOR) and the A6120 Outer Ring Road Enhancements. More information about these improvement schemes can be found here.   

The Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy also sets out the vision for Leeds to be a city where you don’t need a car, where everyone has an affordable zero carbon choice in how they travel within the Leeds District and across West Yorkshire and undertaking these proposals we are aiming for that aspiration along the A64.  

The route is a busy, high frequency route and the current infrastructure cannot cope with the existing demand. As a result, congestion is common at peak periods, meaning buses are experiencing more delays, leading to longer journey times for passengers, which reduces the reliability of the local bus network. 

Congestion is likely to worsen due to higher travel demands as a result of forecasted growth and planned future developments in Leeds. The A64 Bus Priority Improvement scheme is therefore required to address delays on the route and to provide a targeted solution for commuters.  

By potentially making the A64 journey more attractive it is hoped it would encourage people to switch from private car to bus, walking and cycling along the route.  

The types of interventions proposed to improve bus journeys along the A64 include:  

To view our plans to improve bus priority on the A64 in more detail, click here.  

The proposed scheme will improve journeys on the A64 for local people and users of the route and create links between communities. Buses will be given priority at key road junctions, and walking and cycling facilities will be upgraded and enhanced, with proposals such as additional crossings making walking and cycling journeys more pleasant. These proposals will encourage more people to use buses, walking and cycling which will help to improve air quality, contributing towards the Council’s environmental objectives.  

We have made several changes to our proposals since we last engaged with you in 2021. These have been guided by your feedback and shaped by a review of scheme costs, in the context of inflation and the need for value for money.  

In 2021, the project had a larger funding allocation from TCF, and we consulted on a more comprehensive set of proposals along the corridor. The scheme's budget was reduced in 2022 due to unprecedented rising inflation, which has significantly impacted major infrastructure projects across West Yorkshire. A phased delivery approach is now being progressed with the funding available.    

The full list of proposals has been reviewed, prioritised and divided into phases. Some of the original proposals will not be progressed as part of the A64 Bus Priority Scheme, including any future phases. These include elements that received less favorable feedback in the previous consultation, along with those which do not meet the main objective to improve bus journey times and reliability, and those that do not offer good value for money.   

A new bus-based park and ride site was originally considered part of the scheme but due to financial pressures across the programme an ‘Inflation Review’ was undertaken and as a result the Park & Ride element of this project has been pipelined.  

The scheme is one of several city-wide transport improvement projects that will help achieve the Council and the Combined Authority’s vision of becoming carbon net zero.  

Proposals to improve bus priority measures will promote a shift away from reliance on cars, and towards public transport, walking and cycling. This will reduce congestion and improve air quality by encouraging more environmentally friendly methods of travel.  

The Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy sets out the vision for Leeds to be a city where you don’t need a car, where everyone has an affordable zero carbon choice in how they travel within the Leeds District and across West Yorkshire and undertaking these proposals we are aiming for that aspiration along the A64.  

Due to 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.

We are hosting drop in events: 

You will get a chance to speak to the project team and ask any questions and have a look through the plans and fill out a questionnaire.