West Yorkshire mass transit: routes should focus on areas with poor connectivity, residents say

Respondents to an inquiry into the development plans around the proposed tram system said it is overly focused on city centres and risks “reinforcing inequalities” across the region.

Mayor Tracy Brabin is under pressure to deliver the £2.5bn project, and has repeatedly pledged to bring trams back to West Yorkshire.

She originally consulted on routes from Leeds Station to Bradford via Armley and Pudsey, as well as through Holbeck to Elland Road and the White Rose Shopping Centre.

However, these will have to be reassessed after a critical Government review told Ms Brabin to change her processes and pushed back the completion date to the late 2030s.

The mayor has to submit business cases to the Department for Transport for a tram system as well as a bus network, and after one is approved she can again consult on routes.

However, it is almost certain that a line will connect to the redeveloped Elland Road, as this was the most popular journey in the original consultation.

A survey into the development plans around the new stations is set to be assessed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority next week, and it found “consultees outlined concern with the ongoing design and proposed location of mass transit”.

Residents and major stakeholders such as Leeds United called for “much greater clarity and transparency around proposed mass transit routes, priorities, and impacts”, the document said.

It added: “There was concern that current proposals are overly city-centred, insufficiently specific, and risk reinforcing inequalities across West Yorkshire.

“Many respondents questioned route choices, particularly where proposals appear to duplicate existing rail services or bypass town centres and argued instead for focusing investment on densely populated areas, towns, villages, and communities with poor existing connectivity and areas without rail access.

“There were repeated requests for clearer information on which areas will benefit, realistic acknowledgement that mass transit cannot cover the entire region, and an assessment of impacts on communities not directly served, including effects on bus services, property values, and long-term accessibility.”

Ms Brabin has been under pressure to improve transport infrastructure in less connected parts of West Yorkshire, through both mass transit and the ongoing bus franchising plans.

It is understood that WYCA felt that the best chance of getting £2bn from the Treasury for the proposed tram network was by linking the region’s two biggest cities in Leeds and Bradford.

After the first phase is complete, the hope is that the network can mirror cities like Manchester and Nottingham and continue to expand to Leeds Bradford Airport and areas like Kirklees and Wakefield.

In Greater Manchester, after the first phases of the tram were complete, the combined authority was able to use business rates to build new lines, something which has been devolved to Leeds.

A WYCA spokesperson said: “This document will help support delivery of mass transit across West Yorkshire – but is not about gathering feedback on or deciding specific routes.

“As part of our Weaver Network, mass transit will provide a new form of fast, reliable and attractive public transport – boosting jobs, housing and economic growth across our region.

“We’ll continue to engage with the public on our vision for this transformative investment as our plans progress.”