The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, unveiled the proposed routes of the new mass transit system for West Yorksire’s first two lines, at an event this morning (15 July 2024).
The plans, which are now open for public consultation, show three possible routes through South Leeds to link the city centre with the White Rose Shopping Centre, office park and new rail station.
Option L5 follows Dewsbury Road
Option L6 follows Elland Road
Option L7 follows Gelderd Road, Lowfields Road, Wesley Street, Old Lane and Dewsbury Road
The current public consultation, which runs until 30 September, will be followed by the statutory preferred route consultation in 2025, and the Mayor has previously promised to have spades in the ground on the project by 2028.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said:
“I’m committed to growing our economy and putting more money into people’s pockets – but to do so we need a transport network that is fit for purpose.
“Pivotal to achieving that is a modern, Mass Transit system interconnected with a West Yorkshire bus network under local control.
“I’ve promised to have spades in the ground by 2028 on Mass Transit, but we need to understand the views of the people who will use it to help inform the route it will take.”
Marcus Johns, Senior Research Fellow at IPPR North, said:
“Public transport is mission critical for driving up economic growth, opening up opportunities, addressing the climate crisis, and boosting living standards, all shown clearly by the evidence in the UK and internationally.
“This ambition to rapidly rollout a Mass Transit system across West Yorkshire is a major step in the right direction, and demonstrates how the gap left by decades of underinvestment in our public transport across the North and beyond can be plugged.
“This is not only good for West Yorkshire, as the benefits of bolstering West Yorkshire’s economy will be good for the whole North. It is a clear lesson of the high ambition and benefits that Mayors, devolution, and investment are bringing to our wider region. To unlock shared growth and renewal, we hope to see schemes like this brought forward for cities and towns across the country.”
Commenting on the proposals Leeds Civic Trust Director Martin Hamilton said:
“These initial routes are a sensible first phase connecting key locations and will support different users including workers, students, shoppers and leisure travellers. The detail needs to be examined and we will be offering our comments as part of the consultation.”
“Mass Transit offers the opportunity for much wider benefits. We should use the opportunity to create new public spaces, plant trees, and soften our urban environment. This is not just about transport but improving the places where people live.”
You can respond to the consultation by following this link: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hub-page/mass-transit you can comment until 30 September 2024.
A series of drop in events have also been organised where you can speak to a member of the team and find out more. Details of the events are as follows:
| Beeston Village Community Centre | Beeston Park Place, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 8DQ | Friday 26 July | 2pm-5pm |
| Hunslet Library | Waterloo Road, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 2NS | Wednesday 7 August | 4pm-7pm |
| St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck | St Matthew’s Street, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 9NR | Thursday 29 August | 8am-11am |
| Hamara Centre, Beeston Hill | Tempest Road, Leeds, LS11 6RD | Wednesday 4 September | 3pm-6pm |
| Cottingley Community Centre | 115 Cottingley Approach, Leeds, LS11 0HJ | Monday 16 September | 3pm-6pm |
| The Tetley | The Tetley, Hunslet Road, Leeds, LS10 1JQ | Thursday 1 August | 4pm-7pm |
Main image: for illustrative purposes only
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I don’t see the point of connecting the city centre to the White Rose Shopping Centre when buses already run that route, not to mention the traffic chaos that is going to be caused by the implementation of it. The traffic was bad enough when the cycle path that very few people use was installed. Perhaps the mayor wants to see the city centre completely empty of shops and people.
Yet another vanity project that will cost millions in consultations and back handers with nothing actually getting built. If it does go ahead we can expect years of chaos and over runs!
How much money has been wasted on the consultations? Leeds City Centre doesn’t need trams running through it taking business away – it needs decent shops! I work in the City Centre and it’s noticeable how many retailers have closed their doors – Debenhams, House of Fraser, BHS, Wilkinson, Top Shop, Bon Marche, Clarks, Fatface, etc etc – to be replaced by coffee, fast food and vape shops? Leeds City Council has spent billions of pounds over the years on transport schemes and still has nothing to show for it. One of their policies is ‘spend money wisely’ – practice what you preach and do just that – there are potholes that need repairing properly, nurseries that need to be re-opened/kept open, more investment in care homes/elderly care, more leisure centres and a train line to Leeds Bradford Airport.
They’ll need the trams to get all the students from the city centre to the White Rose!
Well said Adele. I couldn’t agree more. Also, what’s happening to the new, half constructed, rail station at the White Rose that is supposed to see trains running from Leeds City Centre? It would seem all forms of transport lead to the White Rose though I don’t know why as many of the units are empty!
Perhaps the scheme is intended to compensate on not delivering on HS2? Agree with everyone, its not really needed. In Croydon I always associated a significant rise in crime with how easy the trams made it for muggers to travel in and out of the area with little or no ticket checks.