Connecting Leeds Newsletter
November 2024
£20m plans unveiled for Woodhouse Lane Gateway
A consultation has launched on transformative proposals that aim to improve journeys for people walking, cycling and using public transport along Woodhouse Lane, Blenheim Terrace, Blenheim Walk and Albion Street.
The 2km route connects Leeds City Centre to three of the city’s universities – the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, and Leeds Arts University - as well as leisure and hospitality businesses such as The Light, Merrion Centre and St John’s centre.
The plans have been drawn up based upon results from a consultation earlier this year where the public were asked what issues they faced along the route, changes they would like to see, and which improvements should be prioritised.
They include:
⭐ Two-way segregated cycle track along the whole route
⭐ Upgraded bus waiting areas, with improved bus shelters
⭐ Wider pavements, new public spaces, trees and greenery
⭐ New signalised crossings for pedestrians and cycle users
⭐ Simplified junctions to ease congestion and help bus reliability
Have your say on the designs by Monday 16 December.
Magical Leeds Christmas
The beloved Christmas markets return to Leeds tomorrow until Sunday 22 December. Get into the Christmas spirit by visiting a whole host of food, drink and craft stalls dotted across the city centre. View Visit Leeds' handy guide showing all the markets and stalls on offer.
Why not make the most of the mulled wine and use public transport to get to the markets? Read more about traveling into the city centre this Christmas.
Mulled wine not your thing? Don’t forget, you can choose from three park and ride sites and enjoy smooth journeys to Leeds City Centre!
Photo credit: Tom Martin for Visit Leeds
Plan Ahead in the run-up to the Festive Period
With Christmas around the corner and festivities taking place, be sure to plan your winter journeys ahead this festive season🎄
When driving into the city, you can make use of the inner ring road accessed from junction two and four of the M621. You can find out more by clicking here.
Road Safety Week
As part of Road Safety Week (17-23 November), Leeds City Council has published new figures which show that an average of one person is killed on the city’s roads every month and more than one person is seriously injured every day.
Although Leeds’ latest figures are bucking regional and national trends, they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. As part of the council’s commitment to Vision Zero – eliminating deaths on the city’s roads by 2040 – it is hoped that by highlighting these figures it will encourage everyone to pay extra attention to theirs and others’ safety.
Join us to find out more
During Road Safety Week our safe and sustainable travel team have been busy delivering road safety workshops in local schools and communities alongside our owl mascot, Arlo.
The team will also be in Dortmund Square this Friday (22 November) between 10am and 2pm, where you can find out more about Vision Zero, contribute to safer, more sustainable travel, and bring your bike to our free Bike Register stand.
Everyone has a part to play in Vision Zero, sign the pledge here: Vision Zero Pledge - West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
£11.2m upgrade brings an additional 22 electric buses to Leeds
First Bus and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) have completed a further £11.2m investment in the operator’s Bramley depot, creating the largest fleet of zero emission buses in West Yorkshire.
A further 22 double-decker electric buses (EV) have now entered service, increasing the total at the depot to 79, meaning half of the Bramley depot's fleet is now electric.
Each bus saves around 75 tonnes of CO2e a year and will help to create a better-connected and greener West Yorkshire.
