How Leeds bus network could look in 2033 as new mass transit plans announced

West Yorkshire's leaders have set out how a new mass transit system "integrated into the urban fabric of every community it serves" could be built in the county by 2040.

A new mass transit system serving the county's towns and cities could start construction by the mid-2020s as part of a wider programme of transport investment over the next 20 years, West Yorkshire Combined Authority said today.

The authority, which leads on transport and economic growth for Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale, is publishing its Connectivity Infrastructure Plan and Mass Transit Vision 2040 today and asking people to have their say.

Though the plans for a mass transit system are still at an early stage, the authority has produced a map setting out how the system could look and how it would fit in with the existing bus and train network as well as bigger projects like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

In a document available on the WYCA website denoting the plans, the bus system in Leeds is reviewed - with a clear vision of how it could look in 2033.

The WYCA plans said 97% of addresses in Leeds are within 400m of a bus stop currently.

In addition, a total of 79% of addresses in Leeds are within 400m of a bus stop served by 4 buses or more during the morning peak (79.30am).

Therefore, at present, a comprehensive high frequency network exists, the plans said.

However, the network hasn’t kept pace with housing and jobs growth.

As part of plans for the development of the network, the criteria and ideas for Leeds have been set out.

The WYCA plans state: "There are opportunities to grow the demand by improving frequencies, enhancing services, improving infrastructure, providing new links to growth areas, and providing selected orbital connections within the high frequency network."

Highway network improvements will be made in a host of different areas across the city, including:

- Increased frequency of services to Otley, Bramhope, Guiseley and Leeds Bradford Airport.

- Enhanced bus operations between Headingley, Meanwood and Woodhouse and the city centre.

- Increased frequency of services between Leeds and Wetherby

- More buses from Middleton to Wakefield

- Network improvements on the Pudsey to Leeds 'corridor'

It is estimated that the network will require 7% more buses to deliver the same level of service by 2033, if no enhancements are made.

The plans state: "The greatest immediate opportunity is to improve journey times and reliability to build on current Connecting Leeds programmes by tackling congestion, providing effective bus priority.

"In 2017, it is estimated that there are almost 63m annual trips by bus in Leeds, by 2033 this rises to 74m if all the additional enhancements are delivered."

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