Traffic jams to cost Leeds drivers £1.5 billion

Transport information company Inrix found time wasted in the UK’s worst traffic jams will leave drivers out of pocket to the tune of £62 billion by 2025.
London topped the list of 10 worst UK cities for congestion costs with delays in the capital estimated to set drivers back £42 billion over the next decade.
Leeds was seventh in the list with an estimated cost to drivers of £1.5 billion by 2025. Bradford was eighth at £1.1 billion.
The Inrix study, which used travel time figures from a Department of for Transport Commssioned report, identified the worst hotspot in Leeds as the westbound M62 junction 26 with junction one of the M606.
Leeds North West Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland said: “It is shocking that traffic congestion will cost Leeds and Bradford £2.6 billion by 2025 and this shows that the Leeds City Region urgently needs major transport improvements.
“Following the scrapping of the New Generation Trolleybus scheme, Leeds City Council have been given £173.5 million by central government, and with up to £81m of local funding for NGT, the city has £250m and a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform transport in Leeds and to at least get started with a mass transit light rail scheme.
“Yet it seems Leeds City Council are set on frittering away the £173.5 million on park and rides and smaller improvements.
“This is showing a complete lack of leadership and ambition for our city which they will condemn to continue to be the biggest city in Western Europe without a mass transit scheme.
Pudsey Conservative MP Stuart Andrew said: “This highlights exactly why Leeds needs a fully integrated transport system. Our local economy is losing out as a result.”

No-one from Leeds City Council was avalable to comment.