£127m for new transport infrastructure in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is to spend £127m on new transport and regeneration schemes in the region. 

The authority’s investment committee will consider a range of projects, including a £13.6m scheme for Wakefield city centre to deliver segregated cycle lanes and walking infrastructure.

A £14.47m packaging for York Rail Station will also be considered. This will involve implementing cycle routes between the rail station, better cycle parking at the station and improved journey times between the station and Askham Bar Park and Ride.

The members will also consider a £10m package of Emergency Active Travel Fund measures, which includes trial walking and cycling infrastructure and behaviour change initiatives to help people move around the region safely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cllr Denise Jeffery, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee, said: ‘The Combined Authority is committed to leading the economic recovery from the pandemic and it is crucial we accelerate schemes to help create new employment opportunities and support supply industries — vital work, which will help pave a way forward for our region.

‘Building the future we want with a transport system fit for the 21st century is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net-zero carbon economy by 2038.

‘We need to reduce car trips by 21% and increase cycling trips by 2,000%, walking trips by 78%, bus strips by 39% and rail trips by 53% if we are to achieve our ambitious net-zero targets in this time frame.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay