Leeds A64 bus, cycling and walking plans as part of £457m transport investment - how to have your say

Leeds City Council says key areas of improvement have been identified along the route, specifically between Marsh Lane on the edge of the city centre and Whinmoor.

Its proposed £7m scheme aims to improve travel times, accessibility and the reliability of bus journeys, reduce congestion and encourage people to walk and cycle more; all of which will contribute to improvements in air quality.

It is part of wider efforts by the council to encourage more people to travel by bike or on foot, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Coun Helen Hayden, the council's executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “The planned improvements for this part of the A64 are part of our long-term Connecting Leeds cycling and transport ambition to provide more efficient public transport and better connected routes for people living and working in Leeds.

“Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact, it’s also been a catalyst to more people walking and cycling and it’s important in the context of the Leeds climate emergency that we capitalise on this and make improvements to Leeds’ walking and cycling infrastructure.

“I would really encourage people to have their say and comment on the online proposals as their views in how this is shaped are very important.

"Our ambition is for Leeds to be a zero carbon city by 2030 and in order to achieve this we need to make travel in and around Leeds as easy and as efficient as possible, where people don’t feel the need to bring in their car.”

For the purposes of the survey, the A64 scheme has been split into five areas and people can comment on as many or as few of these areas as they like.

A virtual consultation room has also been created, allowing people to view a series of aerial maps showing where changes to road layouts, bus stops and other measures could be taken.

Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I'm committed to improving public transport, tackling the climate emergency and protecting our environment.

“That’s why I’m delighted people are being asked for their views on plans to make it easier and safer to travel more sustainably along this key route in Leeds.”

The project is being funded through the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), a new £457m transport infrastructure investment programme by the Combined Authority in partnership with local councils. The funding allocated for the A64 bus priority scheme is £7m.

Visit www.bit.ly/A64consult for more information on the proposals and to complete the online survey, which will remain open until 11.59pm on Sunday July 25.

An online event to present the proposals and give people the opportunity to ask questions will take place on Wednesday June 30 at 6pm. Visit www.A64.consultation.ai for more details on how to take part.

Anyone who requires the consultation materials in an alternative format can email [email protected] or call Metroline on 0113 245 7676 between 7am and 8pm Monday to Saturday or 8am to 8pm on Sunday.

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