Sustainable travel plans a step closer
TRAVEL: Sustainable travel schemes for West Yorkshire worth nearly £180m, which are being set up as a result of the county’s devolution deal, will be closer to reality from next week.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee will be asked to progress schemes through the Transforming Cities Fund.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL schemes for West Yorkshire worth nearly £180m, which are being set up as a result of the county’s devolution deal, will be closer to becoming reality from next week.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee will on Tuesday be asked to progress schemes being delivered through the Leeds City Region’s £317m Transforming Cities Fund.
The major programme of investment is coming to West Yorkshire as part of the devolution deal signed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the five council leaders in March.
Prior to the landmark deal being signed West Yorkshire struggled to access the same levels of funding from the government scheme.
Among the schemes are a package of improvements worth up to £33.2m for people travelling by bus, bike and on foot to, and within, Bradford city centre, including the Jacobs Well roundabout from Manchester Road and access between Bradford Interchange and Forster Square train stations.
Other items include a scheme worth up to £19.6m to refurbish Dewsbury Bus Station, and improve the town centre and Ring Road for people travelling by bike and on foot, as well as a £16m scheme to upgrade Heckmondwike bus hub, improve bus priority along the A638 and provide cycle links to the Spen Valley Greenway.
A £7.4m scheme to improve access to Brighouse and Elland rail stations for people travelling on foot and by bike, a £15.8m scheme to redevelop Halifax Bus Station and a package of measures worth up to £15.5m to make it easier for people across West Yorkshire to travel by bus will also be presented to members.
Denise Jeffery, who is chairwoman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee and Labour leader of Wakefield Council, said of the plans: “We want to reduce car journeys across West Yorkshire by 3.5 per cent by 2027 and these important schemes will help us achieve this.
“From connecting people across our region, to reducing air pollution and congestion, and combatting physical inactivity and obesity, we know increasing the numbers of people choosing to travel by bike or on foot has a vital role to play in making West Yorkshire a great place to live and work.
“This work is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health, transport and economic challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”