In November 2006 Metro’s 25-year Transport Vision was unveiled as part of the launch for the Leeds City Region Development Plan.
A £4.5bn package of congestion-fighting measures the Vision includes proposals for tram trains, further electrification of local rail routes, new and upgraded road links, rapid bus transit incorporating the latest technology, bus- and rail-based park and ride, new transport interchanges and an extension of the money-saving MetroCard to cover the whole region.
At the launch of the Vision it was reiterated that the City Region’s growth and prosperity could be compromised if the legacy of Government under-investment in the region’s transport - £200 per person in the Leeds City Region compared with £400 in other English Regions continues.
The Leeds City Region partnership includes the Leaders and Chief Executives of Barnsley, Harrogate, York, Calderdale, Kirklees, North Yorkshire, Craven, Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds and Selby local authorities.
The Plan was initially launched before an audience of leaders from across local government, the business community and other partner organisations, in Halifax and then to MPs at the Houses of Parliament.
One element of the Transport Vision is a proposal for Bus Rapid Transit in Leeds .When he turned down the Leeds Supertram scheme in November 2005, the then Secretary-of-State for Transport Alistair Darling told Leeds that funding for a bus rapid transit alternative would be available providing it was the right scheme.
Metro and Leeds City Council accepted this challenge and are drawing up an Outline Business Case for the Department for Transport (DfT), for a value-for-money scheme that offers many of the benefits that Supertram would have provided but the potential of greater flexibility.
Based upon the plans for the Supertram scheme, the proposed routes
would follow routes through the northern Headingley corridor to Bodington and to Stourton, south of the city. The proposed route to the east is a revision to the Supertram route taking into account housing and regeneration. Further links into the Aire Valley Employment Area are also being considered. City Centre routes would be largely based on the Supertram routes, and are provided for in the proposed Eastgate development.
The benefits provided by various types of vehicle, their cost and their attractiveness to potential passengers will be considered in the Outline Proposal. High-quality electrically powered ‘trolley’ buses hybrid diesel-electric buses and diesel-powered buses such as the ftr, which has recently currently been introduced along the Number 4 route in Leeds, are being investigated.
DfT feedback on the Outline Business Case is expected in late 2007. This would need to be followed by public consultations leading to submission of a Full Business Case in late 2007. Subject to DfT approval a Transport and Works Act would be submitted in 2008, which then be followed by an Inquiry, mid to late 2008. An expected Inquiry outcome in early 2009, would be followed by a tender process, which would mean the start of construction in 2010 with phased completion of the scheme in 2011/12.
