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: 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, 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 improvements: phase 2 is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and forms part of a major programme of investment that aims to deliver new transport infrastructure in West Yorkshire.   

This phase of the A64 Bus priority improvements: phase 2 scheme is expected to cost £9.9million from the Department for Transport (DfT) to deliver this phase of improvements.  

Our proposals aim to: 

Several city-wide transport improvement schemes have been progressed alongside the A64 Bus priority improvements: phase 2 scheme which aims 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. 

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 bus 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. A64 Bus priority improvements: phase 2 scheme is therefore required to address delays on the route and to provide a targeted solution for all users of the A64.   

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.  

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 we consulted on a larger scheme with a more comprehensive set of proposals. However following unprecedented rising inflation in the intervening years the scope and costs of the works have had to be reviewed so that they can be progressed with the funding available from the Department for Transport  

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 improvement scheme. 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.  

In the summer of 2024, we consulted on phase 1 of the A64 Bus priority improvements and further information, including the engagement outcome report can be found here.   

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.  

The Full Business Case (FBC) is due to be submitted in December 2025, with construction anticipated to start in spring 2026. Local residents and road users will be notified in advance of any works along the route.  

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. 

To see our plans in more details, you can visit them here (link to plans). There you can view all our engagement materials, including scheme maps, and fill out our questionnaire.  

We are hosting two drop-in events on:  

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

We are hosting drop in events: 

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