FAQs
The consultation
What is a public consultation?
A public consultation gives the public, stakeholders, and communities the opportunity to make their views known and influence proposals by providing their feedback during the consultation period.
Consultation is a part of the wider planning process for major projects like Mass Transit and aims to share the early plans of a large project at a stage when changes can be made to the emerging design. Consultation gives everyone a chance to get involved in the development of a large project by giving feedback on the proposals via a consultation feedback survey.
Consultation is not a vote or referendum where an outcome that is favoured the most will be taken forward. Instead, consultations are used to gain valuable feedback that highlight issues, provide insight, and help shape the plans. All feedback gained during this consultation will be considered alongside our engagement with technical and statutory stakeholders and local authorities involved as part of the ongoing Mass Transit development process.
Why should I take part? What influence can I have?
Mass Transit can bring many benefits to the communities it will serve. We want you to be part of this journey with us as we seek to deliver the initial tram network in Leeds and Bradford.
We have worked hard to develop 10 potential route options for Mass Transit phase one, but to progress in identifying a 'preferred route' for each line, we would like to hear what you think of each option to help us reach a decision. You, your friends and family will be the ones using Mass Transit, so it is important we develop a network that works for you.
Once feedback has been gathered and the Bradford Line and Leeds Line preferred routes have been identified, we will hold further consultations to show you the plans for the preferred routes in more detail, including stop locations, depots, and any potential Park & Rides.
When can I take part?
You can take part in the consultation between 15 July and 30 September 2024.
Who can take part in the public consultation? Can I let other people know about it?
We have publicised this public consultation widely. Anyone can take part. Please tell your friends and family about it.
Please share the Mass Transit Your Voice page with anyone you think would be interested in taking part in the public consultation.
As well as submitting individual responses, you can submit a joint response on behalf of a group or organisation on our Your Voice platform or by emailing your response to masstransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Please also share the link with your group and organisation colleagues or members so they have the opportunity to provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.
How do I respond?
We would like you to complete a feedback survey after you have viewed the consultation information in the brochure.
You should then complete the feedback survey.
If you cannot complete the survey online, you can complete a paper copy at one of our events or request a paper by copy by emailing masstransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Completed surveys can be sent to: FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA at no cost to you.
Are you having any in-person events?
We are hosting several events. Our team will be available to answer your questions about the proposals and support you.
Our events are listed on our Your Voice page.
How will my feedback be used and what will happen next?
Your responses will be analysed as part of the consultation process. Following the consultation, we will produce a consultation summary report that provides details about the issues that you have raised.
We will also provide more information about feedback we received and what we are doing in response to this feedback during our consultation on the preferred routes for phase one in 2025.
Will you keep me updated on progress?
You can follow any updates in the Your Voice Mass Transit hub. You can also sign up for our newsletter updates. The link to sign-up is on the project pages and also embedded on the event and FAQ page.
What will the personal information I provide be used for?
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. You can read our Privacy Notice for more information.
How can I contact the project team?
You can contact us via email at masstransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or call us on 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine Contact Centre).
What happens if I do not submit my response in time?
The deadline for responses is 11.59pm on 30 September 2024. If you would like to respond, please make sure you do so before this time as we cannot guarantee that late responses will be accepted and considered.
How do I get an accessible or translated version of the consultation brochure and questionnaire?
The consultation brochure and feedback survey are all accessible and are compatible with most translation software. You can access these on our Your Voice Mass Transit hub [link].
If you need to respond in a different way, or require consultation materials in a different format or language, you can contact us at:
Email: masstransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine)
Post: FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA
I need help filling out the survey
If you need assistance with filling out the survey, you can come along to one of our local engagement events listed on the Your Voice Mass Transit hub where a member of our team will be able to help you.
You can also call MetroLine and leave your name and contact details – one of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Accessibility and Contact information
If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way, require consultation materials in a different format, or would like to make a complaint, you can get in touch with us via:
Our Questions & Answers (Q&A) tool on this page: Submit your question and we will get back to you (responses for questions relating to the consultation will be provided within 10 working days)
Email: Masstransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine) charged at the standard operator's rate
Post: FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA.
The proposals
Improved journey times compared to current public transport options;
Number of potential passengers who might use the tram;
Time it will take to build;
Value for money to build and operate;
Potential to expand the tram network in the future; and
Effects from construction.
Better public transport links between cities and towns in West Yorkshire
Will be attractive to existing car users on the Mass Transit corridors, providing an opportunity to reduce congestion in the future
Serving communities that are not currently benefiting from a good public transport system.
Buses and trains will be less overcrowded as more people will have the choice to use tram.
People can expect more faster, more frequent, and reliable journeys.
Trams can be segregated from other traffic, which means they can spend less time in traffic jams, relative to other modes.
Mass Transit will be integrated with walking, cycling, bus and rail so people can make quick, joined up journeys. Our future ambition is to create a ticketing system which will work across Mass Transit, Rail and Bus.
People will be able to get to work, schools, colleges, and universities more easily. This means more job opportunities for people while encouraging businesses to invest in the West Yorkshire as there will be a larger job pool.
Improving the accessibility of transport in West Yorkshire to people with disabilities
Help to improve the environment of our key urban areas, known as ‘placemaking’ and encourage regeneration in appropriate locations.
What is Mass Transit?
Mass Transit is a large-scale public transport system which usually connects cities and suburban areas. Typically, Mass Transit would use one or more modern high-capacity bus, tram, or tram-train type vehicles. For Mass Transit phase one, our preferred vehicle is a tram.
How did you decide which routes could be part of phase one?
We have done significant work to explore where the Mass Transit route might go and considered over 30 different options. We have looked at where people currently live, work, study, and use services and how this might change in the future. Some considerations that influenced the route options we have taken forward to this consultation include:
For further details on the design process and routes considered, please refer to Appendix 5 of the consultation brochure.
Who will be responsible for Mass Transit?
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is responsible for developing Mass Transit in partnership with the district partners, which include the local authorities of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield.
Why are we proposing a Mass Transit network for West Yorkshire?
Even with all the improvements we have planned for our existing train, bus, walking, cycling, and driving infrastructure, public transport is often still overcrowded, and roads are congested, especially during rush hour. If we do nothing, these issues will only continue to worsen so we need to take action now.
Mass Transit can help fix these issues. We can increase our transport capacity as trams are able to carry approximately four times the number of passengers of a typical bus. Trams can also be segregated from traffic, spending less time sat in traffic jams, making them quicker and more reliable than other modes.
Mass Transit is essential to bringing people and places closer together, to helping our communities thrive and economy flourish.
Why not just invest more in our current network, for example in bus?
Our plans for Mass Transit are supported by our plans for the bus network. It is not one or the other. A decision was made on 14 March 2024 by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, to bring buses back under local control through franchising. With franchising, the Combined Authority will set the routes, frequency, fares, and overall standards of the buses in our region. More information on bus franchising in West Yorkshire can be found on our Bus Service Improvement Plan webpage.
Mass Transit will be just one part of our plans for an integrated transport network and, as the proposals develop, we will undertake detailed assessments of how Mass Transit will complement the wider bus network to improve connectivity for communities along the routes.
What benefits will we see when Mass Transit is built?
Mass Transit would bring significant benefits to the people of West Yorkshire. Some of these could be:
Other considerations
How close a potential stop is to nearby residential or work areas or other important places of interest;
The potential to connect to other transport services, such as rail, bus, and cycling and walking routes;
Safety considerations; and
Ground conditions, such as the availability of suitable land.
What would the frequency of the trams be?
Further work is required to determine the frequency of Mass Transit services, but it is likely it would be significantly more frequent than existing train services.
How many stops will there be, and where will they be located?
Potential stops for the phase one route options have yet to be decided. As we continue to develop the proposals, the exact locations of stops will be identified. We anticipate that stops will be located approximately every 300 to 800 meters along routes, in line with Department for Transport guidance. In identifying where stops will be, we will seek to balance the need to serve areas along each route alongside existing public transport availability. As part of developing these proposals, we are seeking to provide a number of stops within inner city areas too, allowing easier, more frequent journeys for our communities.
The number and location of Mass Transit stops will be informed by a range of factors, including:
When you start construction, how would my journey times by car be impacted?
Impact to the road network has been a factor for deciding which route options to take forward for Mass Transit phase one. During construction and operation, we will take measures to limit the impacts to the road network and local traffic as far as reasonably practicable and seek to keep disruption to a minimum.
We are working very closely with our partners and local councils to ensure that essential services such as emergency services can still be maintained. We acknowledge that this project will cause disruption, and we will keep in regular contact with people to notify them when road closures and diversions are happening.
Mass Transit will bring significant benefits for generations to come, which we consider far outweigh the short-term impact that might be experienced during construction.
How long would phase one take to build?
Subject to obtaining the relevant permissions, consents, and approvals, we expect to start construction in 2028, with the first services being operational by the early 2030s. This is a typical timescale for Mass Transit schemes.
What would the disruption be to the community and businesses?
The project will aim to reduce impacts as far as reasonably practicable. We will work collaboratively with the local authorities to ensure essential services such as deliveries and refuse collections can still be maintained. We understand businesses along or near to the route may have more questions about disruption, that there may be concerns about businesses along the route being impacted. We will work hard to ensure that access to homes and businesses is maintained, or alternative arrangements are made during key times.
If you are worried about this and you would like to speak to a member of our team, please contact us. We would urge people to fill out the consultation survey so we can better understand the level of impact along the route options.
What is the cost and how will it be funded?
Mass Transit will be a considerable investment but would grow our region’s economy and deliver substantial benefits for generations to come.
We have already been allocated £200 million by the Government to develop our Mass Transit plans between now and 2027. This would cover design, consultation, and other preliminary works.
The chancellor has seen our plans, and we are determined to secure future funding for the scheme and expect phase one construction to exceed £2bn.
Why do we need Mass Transit when we already have trains which run between Bradford and Leeds? What about the new White Rose Station?
Mass Transit is all about giving people more choice. A choice to choose a mode of transport which makes their journey easier and quicker. We believe rail and Mass Transit can complement each other. Where rail caters for regional and national journeys, Mass Transit would assist passengers in making shorter, more local journeys. Mass Transit stops would be much closer to each other than with rail, meaning people can start and end their journeys closer to where they live. Mass Transit services would also be significantly more frequent than the Train services (typically between every 5-10 minutes on other UK tram systems). This will help shorten people’s journeys overall as less time will be spent waiting for services.
Mass Transit would bring much-needed additional capacity to the transport network, while also freeing up space on rail for people making longer journeys. It would be a high-quality service, helping to create an attractive alternative to the car and giving people more opportunities to leave their vehicles at home.
Environmental
Preserving and enhancing local plant and animal life, such as creating habitats, protecting endangered species, and promoting biodiversity.
Improving green spaces. This includes improving the scenery, improves air quality and providing recreational spaces;
Restoring natural ecosystems, including planting new areas of forest, and restoring areas of water.
Habitat and protected species surveys
Landscape viewpoint photography
Noise monitoring
Air quality monitoring
Archaeological investigations
Pedestrian and traffic surveys
Flood risk, water, and drainage surveys
Tree surveys
How would the proposals help West Yorkshire achieve its climate goals?
We have an ambition to make West Yorkshire carbon net zero by 2028. At the moment, cars and vans account for 21% of our region’s carbon emissions, and it is time for a fundamental change.
Mass Transit would create a better-connected West Yorkshire. It would give people the choice to leave cars at home and choose buses, trams, and trains for some journeys instead. This reduces harmful pollutants in the atmosphere, which can significantly impact our carbon reduction goals. Most mass transit systems rely on electricity through overhead lines or batteries to provide efficient and eco-friendly transport. Beyond traditional electric systems, we are exploring emerging sustainable technologies. For example, hydrogen-powered transport is one option we will consider where appropriate to meet our sustainability goals.
How would the environment be considered during construction?
We acknowledge that constructing a large transport network could have significant impacts on local environments.
Before construction, we will produce a full Environmental Impact Assessment, develop a Code of Construction Practice that would outline our methods for mitigating the likely significant adverse effects of building the first phase of Mass Transit. Our contractors would follow these guidelines during the construction of the project.
To reduce the environmental impact of construction, we would seek to employ innovative construction techniques, use eco-friendly materials (such as locally sourced or recycled aggregate where possible) and new technologies during the construction phase.
Before construction, we will develop a Code of Construction Practice that would outline our methods for mitigating the adverse effects of building the first phase of Mass Transit. Our contractors would follow these guidelines during the construction of the project.
If we identify likely significant adverse effects during the environmental assessments, we will seek to take steps to mitigate them, such as changing design proposals or implementing specific measures.
Other work may include:
What environmental surveys will you need to undertake for the project? And when?
As part of our environmental assessment work, we will be undertaking a variety of surveys from now until late 2025 and beyond, including:
Will there be a need to access private properties to carry out survey work?
When we need to carry out surveys on private land, we will contact landowners who may be affected by the survey work and ask for permission to access their land. Our goal is to maintain transparency, minimise disruptions, and build positive relationships with landowners.
Could the proposals lead to an increase in noise and vibration impacts?
Mass Transit would generate noise, and we will consider how to reduce this during both construction and operation. During construction we will seek to use methods such as quieter construction equipment and vehicles, and noise barriers for impactful work. The design of the system will also include measures for noise and vibration mitigation during operation should it be necessary. Upper limits governing noise and vibration during construction and operation will be set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Could the proposals lead to an increase in air pollution?
As Mass Transit would be powered by electricity, it would cause less air pollution compared to vehicles on the road powered by petrol and diesel.
We will conduct air quality assessments to evaluate compliance with the National Air Quality Objectives set by the UK Government. As part of this, we will assess all the places along the Mass Transit routes that are sensitive to air pollution. These include homes, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and protected ecological areas.
Mass Transit may see some localised increases in air pollution due to changes in traffic movements. However, the more we can encourage people to use Mass Transit instead of cars, the more we can expect to contribute to improving air quality.
As part of the project’s development, we will assess environmental impacts such as air quality. We will evaluate air pollutants including dust, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Land
I have received a letter from the Combined Authority saying my property is along the route, what does this mean for me?
We have written to you because you live in or own property along or close to a possible route we are consulting on. We want to make sure you are aware of our proposals so you can give us your views.
Currently no decision has been taken about which route the trams would follow. Several possible routes for the tram lines are being considered; this is your chance to help us choose which ones become our preferred routes.
If you have any questions and need to speak to a member of our team, please do so via the contact details supplied in the letter.
I think my land or property is directly affected; what can I do?
It is important to note that we are at an early stage in the process and we are still considering a number of route options, final routes have not yet been selected. There will however be impacts on properties, which is inevitable on schemes of this size and scale.
Feedback from the public will help us with further technical and environmental work – which in turn will give us a better idea about how people’s homes might be affected. We will be working with those whose properties may be affected and exploring ways to mitigate any problems.
If you would like to speak to someone, please contact us via email: masstransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or please call us on 0113 403 4668 between 9am and 5pm to speak to a member of the land and property team.
Will the value of my property be affected?
At this stage in the process, we cannot say with any certainty which route will be progressed and what specific properties or areas of land might be required for the Mass Transit scheme. Therefore, we cannot say what impact any chosen route will have on property values.
Once we have chosen a preferred route and undertaken more detailed design work, we will know what land and property will be impacted. We will be introducing a support scheme for residential property owners at the time of announcing the preferred route(s). The scheme will be developed with the aim of ensuring that property owners are not financially disadvantaged, and to support the normal functioning of the property market.
What compensation is available for me if my land or property is affected?
Once preferred routes have been identified, we will introduce support schemes for any affected residential property owners. The schemes will be developed to ensure that property owners are not financially disadvantaged and to support the normal functioning of the property market.
What support is available to businesses affected by the proposals?
Once preferred routes have been identified, we will work with businesses along the route to minimise disruption during the construction phase of the proposals. However, we recognise that in some cases, disruption will be unavoidable.
Over the coming months, we will engage with local business communities to understand their concerns prior to developing support schemes for impacted businesses during the construction phase.