How Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy stacks up against YEP campaign priorities

The coronavirus pandemic has brought about huge changes in the amount of time people spend moving around the city and the way that they are travelling.
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While many are currently forced to work from home due to the restrictions in place, an eventual 'return to normal' could also mean going back to the days of rush hour gridlock, overcrowded trains and unreliable buses.

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Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy sets out vision for city without the need fo...

Such issues were growing source of anger for readers when the Yorkshire Evening Post launched its Unlock the Gridlock campaign last January.

The Unlock the Gridlock campaign called for improvements to public transport in the city. Picture: Bruce RollinsonThe Unlock the Gridlock campaign called for improvements to public transport in the city. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
The Unlock the Gridlock campaign called for improvements to public transport in the city. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
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Visiting the YEP in the days after we set out our five priorities for local and central government to get behind, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave his full commitment to our to-do list to get Leeds moving.

Promising "a total 24/7 commitment to driving it through", he said: "If we don't see things moving, I'll be the one who's impatient."

Now Leeds City Council has published a draft Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy that contains measures with the potential to meet each of those requests.

The first was for an expert analysis to be undertaken into what is not working when it comes to transport in the city. In drawing up the strategy, the council looked to the Leeds Transport Advisory Panel - a group of transport experts - to provide guidance and challenge its thinking.

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We asked that they agree to consider pledging to consider a mass transit system, but the strategy goes further in making the delivery of such a system one of its six 'big moves'.

There are also various measures that could fix the city's unreliable bus network, improving train services, and making Leeds a better place for walking and cycling.

Now the focus of the campaign is to encourage residents and business throughout the city to have their say on the council's plans, before we keep a close eye on progress to ensure that those in charge deliver all the strategy promises.

The consultation will run until March 26, before the feedback from the public and other stakeholders is reviewed. An updated strategy is then expected to be published in early summer.

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Visit leedstransportstrategy.commonplace.is/ to learn more about the proposals, read the draft strategy in full or make comments.

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