City unveils its plans to improve bus travel

CIVIC LEADERS in Leeds have unveiled proposals designed to revolutionise bus travel on some of the city’s busiest roads.

Leeds City Council is planning to put new bus priority measures and improved infrastructure in place on three key transport corridors.

The first is Bradford to Leeds via Stanningley, Bramley and Armley, the second is Alwoodley to Leeds via Moortown and Chapel Allerton while the third is Oakwood and Roundhay to Leeds via Harehills and St James’s Hospital.

A public consultation has been launched on the plans, which have been drawn up by the council with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and are being supported by bus operators First Leeds, Arriva Yorkshire and Transdev. Council leader Coun Judith Blake, inset, said: “Looking at all aspects of a road network, we want to maximise the limited space we have so it is as efficient as possible. “Priority bus networks have proven to be highly effective, so we look forward to sharing the plans and hearing what people think.” If the proposals get the green light, work would be funded by some of the £173.5m left over from the collapse of Leeds’s trolleybus project. The council and the WYCA have also confirmed that they are considering automated and driverless vehicle technology as they continue to explore options for a mass-transit system following the failure of trolleybus and its predecessor, Leeds Supertram.