County’s bid for share of transport funding

COUNCIL LEADERS in West Yorkshire have submitted their bid for a share of a £840m Government fund to help improve city transport.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s submission sets out proposals to improve public transport along four key routes in the Leeds City Region and upgrade connections to eight rail stations.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced last year that half of the £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund would go to areas with metro-mayors, meaning nowhere in Yorkshire would be eligible.

The West Midlands is set to receive £250m, Greater Manchester £243m, Liverpool £134m, West of England £80m, Cambridge and Peterborough £74m and Tees Valley £59m.

West Yorkshire is among the authorities bidding for the remainder of the fund, with Sheffield City Region metro-mayor Dan Jarvis also expected to submit a bid. He is not automatically eligible for the funding because of the lack of a devolution agreement in South Yorkshire.

If successful, the submission will allow the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to develop detailed plans over the next six months. The bid is focused on transforming transport connections for those communities most in need of access to jobs, services and education.

Priorities include supporting cycling and walking as well as exploring the opportunities offered by new technology.