Tracy Brabin to end mayoral term with landmark decision on bus reform

14 March 2022

The final Combined Authority meeting of West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin's term in office will today see a raft of decisions and investment made to create a region that works for all.

This will include the long-awaited decision on whether to take the region’s bus services back under public control. This could see a deeper partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and private bus operators, or the re-introduction of public control over routes, fares, frequencies, and the overall standard of services through a process known as franchising.

The bus reform moment is the culmination of a three-year-long process that was first put in place by the Mayor after her election in May 2021, to investigate the case for changing how buses are run across Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax and Wakefield.

The decision will be made later this morning during the final Combined Authority meeting of her mayoral term, and follows a statutory process set out by central government in 2017, which includes an assessment, a public consultation, and a final decision by the elected regional Mayor.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

“In 2021, I was elected on a plan to improve bus services, build affordable homes, create green jobs, support businesses and protect women and girls.

“Whilst we’ve been able to deliver on all of these pledges, the decisions being taken today will have a transformative impact on the economy and society of West Yorkshire for generations to come.

“I’d like to thank all of our partners and the people of West Yorkshire for the trust and confidence they’ve put in me to deliver for our region over the past three years.”