FAQs

The Local Transport Plan sets the strategic direction for the future of transport across West Yorkshire, as well as the policies and investment that will help us get there. This means that however you get around – whether you walk, cycle, drive, use public transport or do all these things – it will make a difference to you. It will contain some policies and commitments that will have a direct impact, and will also guide the more local policies, improvements and interventions that the region’s local authorities make. 

The Local Transport Plan will aim to improve transport for everyone in the region, and through this to help make other things better too – like people’s health, access to housing, education and jobs, and much more. It will also set out some of the changes and difficult decisions that may be needed to make those improvements happen. These will also have an impact on the way people travel. So it’s worth getting involved in this early engagement and having your say at each stage of the process, to help us shape a Local Transport Plan that’s fair and delivers benefits for everyone.  

We understand that cars and other vehicles are still a vital part of everyday life.  But equally, we want to provide genuinely attractive alternatives that reduce unnecessary car journeys that could be made by other means of transportation. Making it a more appealing, affordable option to take public transport, walk or cycle is our mission.  

To deliver the transformational benefits of our leading transport network, we will need to change the ways we use our streets. We want streets which are clean, safe and well maintained. We also need to make space for a new Mass Transit system, improve priority for buses and create safer spaces for walking, cycling and wheeling. 

Cars, vans and trucks will always have a place and need the right space in the right locations. But public transport, walking, cycling and wheeling can move more people in less space and are better for our environment. So, we will need to balance the needs of different types of transport in different places.  

How we use our streets will vary across West Yorkshire and will depend on whether it is a major road, a neighbourhood street, a local high-street or part of our town and city centres. There is not a one size fits all approach.   

To develop a Local Transport Plan that works for all of us now and in the future, we’re working closely with the five West Yorkshire local authorities (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield), as well as the public and stakeholders.  

Together with the local authorities, we’ve developed a vision, objectives and underlying principles that will be at the heart of the new Local Transport Plan. This round of engagement is to get feedback on these from the public and stakeholders (for example, transport operators as well as user groups, community groups and stakeholders in related areas like housing, health, education and business) to make sure we get the Local Transport Plan right for West Yorkshire.  

We will then use what we learn from this engagement to help us develop the full content of the Local Transport Plan, again working closely with the five local authorities. We will consult with the public and stakeholders on the draft Local Transport Plan in 2025.  

The Local Transport Plan is a statutory document for the Combined Authority, which means that the final decision for us to adopt it must be taken by the Mayor at our West Yorkshire Combined Authority board. This includes representative members from the five local authorities. We are aiming for it to be adopted in 2026. 

Before the Local Transport Plan goes to the Combined Authority for approval, we intend that it should be formally endorsed by each Local Authority. This reflects how closely the local authorities have worked with us to develop the plan, and its importance for transport planning and investment in each Local Authority area. 

This engagement will close on 30 September at 11:59pm. After that, the responses will be analysed and considered to inform ongoing development of the full draft of the Local Transport Plan. 

We will hold a public and stakeholder consultation on the draft Local Transport Plan in 2025. After that, the plan will be refined in response to feedback and prepared to submit for adoption by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. We are aiming for the plan to be adopted in 2026. 

We must assess the Local Transport Plan at various stages of development to make sure that it will support local and national objectives, including improving quality of life, access for all, environmental commitments and reducing health inequalities. We have appointed an independent consultant to undertake Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) throughout the development of the Local Transport Plan. This will ensure we understand its potential impacts on the environment and how we can avoid or mitigate negative impacts and enhance positive ones. 

Appraisal will be undertaken at various points throughout development of the new Local Transport Plan, to enable recommendations to be implemented. These include a Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitats Regulation Assessment, Health Impact Assessment, and Equality Impact Assessment. These assessmentsmust be in place in order for the Local Transport Plan to be adopted as a statutory document.  

An appraisal of the proposed vision, objectives and network principles, which we are currently seeking feedback on, is being undertaken.  

The outcomes of the assessments will be published together in one document, called the Integrated Sustainability Assessment (ISA) report. The ISA report will be published and consulted on as part of the statutory consultation on the draft Local Transport Plan in 2025.