Local Transport Plan and Other DFT Funding

Project overview

The AccessBus service provides door to door transport to local facilities within each district of West Yorkshire and is mainly aimed at those with limited mobility.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority provides 33 fully accessible minibuses to be used to deliver the service and was recently awarded a £422,000 grant from Department of Transport to replace the vehicle exhaust systems and reduce emissions. In addition to which, £473,000 was made available through the Local Transport Plan for the refurbishment of the vehicles to more modern standards, including re-livery of the vehicles, full CCTV and fitment of digital destination systems. 

Last updated in Q4 2019/2020

Project overview

• The Bradford Interchange Resurfacing Works project, formerly Bradford Interchange Carriageway Works, is a transport scheme funded by the Local Transport Plan programme. The project will involve the complete resurfacing of the carriageway at Bradford Interchange, and any other incidental works/repairs identified.  
• The project is critical to maintain and protect this public asset and allow the continued, safe operation of this public transport facility. This is one of the key priorities set out in the West Yorkshire Transport Asset Development Plan (see below).
• The repair and refurbishment of the carriageway is required before further projects to improve Bradford Interchange can be delivered.

Project benefits

• Allow continued, undisrupted operation of Bradford Interchange.
• Prevent areas of deterioration increasing further and therefore prevent more serious disruption.
• Reduce health and safety risk caused by deteriorating condition.

Last updated in Quarter 1 2023

Project overview

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working together with the City Region’s major bus companies, Arriva, First, Transdev and the Association of Bus Operators in West Yorkshire on a new ambitious partnership, Bus 18. The Bus 18 Delivery Programme involves a number of work streams, including Punctuality and Reliability - a programme of works to key junctions across West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield) to improve bus journey times and user experience.

The programme aims to deliver benefits to bus passengers that can be realised in a short/medium timeframe, by March 2019.

The improvements to the public transport infrastructure ultimately seeks to encourage the use of an alternative, more sustainable mode of transport for car users, and an improved experience for those that rely on bus travel/public transport.

Project overview

Working with BT, the Combined Authority installed 228 new digital cameras at 26 of its West Yorkshire bus stations, linked to the control centre in South Leeds. The project provided an opportunity to review and change camera locations

The security teams’ analogue radios were replaced with digital handsets and new digital data and voice transmission services mean staff can now take radios from site to site without losing their connection.

An additional benefit of the scheme is free public Wi-Fi for passengers at eight of the staffed bus stations, which the Combined Authority had originally envisaged as requiring additional funds and a separate project.

Completed in 2019, the project is delivering a 40 per cent reduction in operating costs and will pay for itself in four years. Reduced energy use makes the system more environmentally friendly as well.

Last updated in Quarter 1 2023

The £60 million programme is funded through the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant and local match funding. It aims to:

• Make cycling a natural and popular choice for short journeys
• Make cycling accessible to everyone
• Improve access to employment, skills and education
• Reduce CO2 and improve local air quality
• Create a safe environment for walking and cycling

Infrastructure projects that have been built now include the 14km segregated Cycle Superhighway running from Leeds city centre along the A647 to the new Broadway shopping centre right in the heart of Bradford.

CityConnect is delivered in partnership by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the five West Yorkshire councils and City of York Council.

Last updated Q1 2023/24

We want to create a world class public transport system that connects different modes of transport seamlessly into one comprehensive, easy-to-use network.

We aim to transform the performance, image and experience of public transport to make it an attractive choice for all.

Rail is currently the backbone of our mass transit network. Where the service is frequent and with newer trains, the number of commuters using rail is high. We want to replicate this high quality service across the City Region.

Buses are currently the most used form of public transport and we need to ensure there is better integration between these two modes including physical interchange, timetabling, ticketing and payment. We have an ambition to build on our current public transport networks and we will set out a plan for how different modes, including rail, mass transit and bus rapid transit, can unlock economic growth constraints.

We recognise the benefits of segregating public transport from other road vehicles and will look at key corridors for where this could be developed further. More people are now travelling between districts to access work opportunities.

We need our public transport system to be High Speed ready. We will link to and build on national investment in High Speed Rail and Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals and we will align our public transport investment with improvements to the motorways and our local roads for a truly integrated transport system. Only through improving our public transport offer, be that bus, rail, park and ride, mass transit or other modes, will we be able to achieve our economic objectives at the same time as ensuring that our towns and city centres are places that promote health, wellbeing and attract inward investment.

The Local Transport Plan Strategy from 2011 – 2026 has a vision to develop a transport system that gives people access to what they want easily, efficiently and in a way that supports the environment, the economy and quality of life. A new approach to rail in West Yorkshire and the wider Leeds City Region is needed if rail is to play a greater role in a modern and dynamic City Region low carbon economy

The Combined Authority will work with partners such as PTEG, all northern PTEs, the Department for Transport, Train Operating Companies, Network Rail, the ORR and the McNulty Review team to ensure that this opportunity will enable the rail offer in West Yorkshire to modernise and play its part in a successful transport system over the long term. The following proposals will be delivered through the rail strategy:

• Additional rail capacity
• Improve operational performance
• Improve customer service quality standards
• Modernise the rail offer
• Improve journey times
• Improve integration between modes
• Integrate ticketing
• Improve service patterns and frequency
• Reduce the carbon footprint of the train

Project overview

The Safety, Accessibility and Environment Programme includes three aims from the Local Transport Plan programme:

1.The Safety and Security element will improve the safety and safety of 10 bus stations across West Yorkshire – key priorities set out in the West Yorkshire Transport Asset Development Plan (see below).

2. The Accessibility element aims to make these sites more accessible based on the feedback of disabled user groups, specifically in this case, in ensuring a consistent approach to head of queue tactile signage used by visually impaired customers to navigate at bus stations.

3.The Environment element will provide new infrastructure to reduce water and electricity consumption, improve recycling rates and reduce the number of Combined Authority vehicles powered by fossil fuels. Reducing emissions from the Combined Authority’s assets will help achieve our ambition of being net zero carbon economy by 2038.

These changes will be implemented at bus stations across West Yorkshire:

1. Batley Bus Station
2. Bradford Interchange Bus Station
3. Brighouse Bus Station
4. Castleford Bus Station
5. Cleakheaton Bus Station
6. Keighley Bus Station
7. Leeds City Bus Station
8. Osset Bus Station
9. Pontefract Bus Station
10.   Pudsey Bus Station

Project objectives

• Keep our passengers safe and improve our safety offer at Bus Stations by replacing the old Brush and Pedestrian barriers with new, leading to the reduction/prevention in passenger/bus related injuries.
• We aim to improve accessibility for all passengers including those with specific access needs, by updating the tactile signage on the head of queues at all stations
• Significantly reduce the impact on the environment of Bus Stations by installing reduced flush toilets, combined recycling bins and electrical maintenance vehicles with charging points
• Maintain, improve, and protect public assets and enable them to be used in a more efficient and cost-effective way with installing help points and passenger radar, also new PA systems for bus station staff to make announcements within each station
• Standardise the approach to safety and access across the sites within the scope to provide a ‘Metro style’ transport system fit for the 21st Century
• Provide station upgrades in line with the Transport Strategy 2040 and Asset Development Plan

Project benefits

• Improve safety outcomes for our passengers and staff
• Improve environmental impact and reduce carbon footprint contributing to West Yorkshire 2038 target of net zero carbon
• Improved air quality following transport modal shift
• Reducing running costs delivering better value for money for the taxpayer

Last updated in Quarter 1 2023

Project overview

The Transforming Travel Centres project is part of a programme of exciting schemes being undertaken at Bradford Interchange and Huddersfield Bus Stations. The scheme will modernise, standardise and future-proof travel centres as part of a 21^st century Metro Style Transport System.

The scheme will see the introduction of Display Information Points (DIPS) and Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) which will be accessible throughout Bus Station opening times, reducing the number of paper timetables and leaflets used and offering Travel Centre services outside of Travel Centre opening times.

With improved access, reduced waiting times and an enhanced look and feel, Transformed Travel centres will have a reduced carbon footprint and create a clean, modern and pleasant atmosphere for customers and Metro staff alike.

The works at Bradford Interchange were completed in December 2022. The Transforming Travel Centre works at Huddersfield Bus Station are to be completed at the same time as the wider Huddersfield Bus Station Scheme. The details in the table below relate to the works at Bradford Interchange only

Last updated in Quarter 1 2023

The West Yorkshire Transport Asset Management Plan sets the guidelines as to how transport assets are maintained, and how they will be maintained in the future.

Transport asset management is about more than just maintaining our roads. There are bridges, traffic control systems, street lighting and public transport infrastructure that requires investment to deal with current and future demands. While our customer satisfaction surveys tells us that the travelling public rate roads and our other assets as being 'very important', these people also express dissatisfaction with their condition.

Potholes, defective roads and poor quality cycle tracks and footways can create inconvenience, affect the quality of journeys and incur costs on users but also present potential hazards to our more vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Although research shows that poorly maintained roads fall into a deeper state of disrepair contributing to traffic delays and disruption, the under investment in highway maintenance by successive governments means managing our transport assets presents a major challenge. We have a backlog of repairs and there is a growing gap between the costs of the repairs and the funding that is available. We must make our approach to, and funding for asset management work better.

Network North – additional highway maintenance funding

Highway authorities across England are to benefit from a boost in funding for local highway maintenance.

As part of an announcement on Network North funding in October 2023, an increase in funding for local highway maintenance was given in order to make real improvements in road condition. The funding is intended to allow more of our roads to be resurfaced, more of our bridges to be repaired, and other highway assets to be fixed than would we otherwise be able to achieve.

As part of this additional funding, we have been asked by DfT to publish a summary of the additional resurfacing work we will deliver with the new funding over the next 2 years.

For both 2023/24 and 2024/25 we are receiving an additional £4.633m per year for local highways maintenance.

The programmes are still being finalised and will undergo final approvals both locally in each council and at a combined authority committee in early Summer in order to release the funding and deliver the whole p2 year programme. In the meantime, the programme below is a draft representation of what roads/areas will be targeted (and are subject to change).

This additional funding complements the already approved CRSTS Highways Asset Management programme in West Yorkshire that was approved at CA in July 2023.

Bradford

Total spend: £1,899,530

Calderdale

Total spend: £1,111,920

Kirklees

Total spend: £1,843,934

Leeds

Total spend: £2,909,524

Wakefield

Total spend: £1,501,092

How is your authority introducing innovation in the delivery of highways maintenance (eg the use of new equipment or software) and where it plans to go further:

The collective West Yorkshire Highway Information Asset Management Group continue to review new materials and methods that look to offer more cost effective, lower carbon and faster delivery in order to increase maintenance and renewal of the highways network in the region.

We are targeting more preventative maintenance practices to slow deterioration in order to protect the wider highway assets and increase activities over a wider area as well as targeting route causes such as drainage defects that if left cause damage to roads and pavements.

Wakefield have engaged with their Technical & digital transformation team to develop an AI output for street level surveys utilising attachments to Street Services refuse vehicles which cover over 95% of the districts roads and could provide street level surveys using machine learned models i.e. colour and shape deviation that can detect defects and gully conditions. These will enhance the service of the survey technicians with a view in due course to manage AI into the asset management policy. The project is in the Alpha phase but could be expected to be operational in 25/26.

West Yorkshire council highways teams and West Yorkshire Combined Authority are also looking to develop a new asset deterioration model to better track condition and plan timely interventions to maximise the benefits from the funding allocations we receive for highway asset maintenance activities.

What steps are your authority taking to ensure utility works are completed in an organised and efficient manner:

Street works and roadworks continue to be regulated by the New Roads and Street Works 1991 (NRASWA and the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) and the related codes of practice and statutory instruments.

The Yorkshire Common Permit Scheme was developed and implemented in conjunction with the other four West Yorkshire Authorities and Barnsley and Sheffield councils. It was one of the first permit schemes introduced in England outside London. The YCPS applied to just the busiest roads across the district. Non-permit streets continued to be dealt with under the earlier noticing system. The YCPS was changed in March 2020 to apply to all adopted roads, becoming an individual permit scheme known as the Kirklees Council Permit Scheme.

The permit scheme covers co-ordination, inspection, restrictions, sanctions and charges, however there are still issues where statutory undertakers come along and stipulate emergency works that either delay vital maintenance work, or worse still mean excavations in recently delivered projects (despite all long-term notifications and protection notices being in place).

The 5 partner councils continue to develop better relationships with statutory undertakers and the CA will join more strategic level coordination on the back of Network North funding levels to ensure we have a step change in the condition of the network.