Greener travel options to be introduced in Leeds
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
After years of planning, the ‘Connecting Leeds' scheme is now underway, which will transform travel for people who live, work and visit the city.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, there is no other city in the UK has had such an ambitious plan, which aims to integrate all travel with a green ambition, making getting to places easier using all methods of transport.
Planning for the scheme began in 2016 and work is set to be completed by 2021 through £270 million of funding provided by the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, who are making the investment to improve local air quality and encourage active travel, creating "a more liveable, greener and better connected city centre".
What the ‘Connecting Leeds' scheme includes
Parts of the city centre will be remodelled to become ‘car free zones' where only buses will have access to City Square, in front of the Queens Hotel and the area around Neville Street.
There are also aims to improve bus reliability and ensure easier navigation through the city centre in a busy area near the market and down to Victoria Gate. There are also plans to consultation cover an area around The Corn Exchange and adjoining streets, including Call Lane, Lower Briggate and Meadow Lane.
This will enhance the quality of the city centre experience, by increasing public space for pedestrians and improving walking and cycling. Local businesses, residents and the public, including shoppers, can have their say online about the Corn Exchange scheme by visiting: www.leeds.gov.uk/ConnectingLeeds by 4 November.
Other major parts of the improvement scheme will see work being undertaken in The Headrow and Armley Gyratory.