Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transport reports on the Transport Conversation and engagement process and seeks feedback and input from Members on the future strategic approach to transport in the city and the development of a proposition and delivery plan for the £173.5 million fund due to be allocated following the cancellation of the NGT project.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transport informed the Community Committee of the Transport Conversation and engagement process and sought feedback and input from Members on the future strategic approach to transport in the city and the development of a proposition and delivery plan for the £173.5 million fund due to be allocated following the cancellation of the NGT project.

Gary Bartlett Chief Officer for Highways and Transport and Dave Pearson of West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport were at the meeting and gave a presentation to the Committee and then took part in a question and answer session with Members and members of the public who had attended the meeting.

Members were advised that following the cancellation of the NGT project Leeds now needed to provide the Government with a proposition and delivery plan by the end of the year, in order to release the £173.5 million funding.

In response to the NGT decision a city wide debate on the future of transport strategy was launched with a Transport Summit on 10th June 2016. The summit was attended by 170 stakeholders from across the city and included Members. At the summit the Leader of Council announced the start of the City’s largest ever Transport Conversation to seek the views from key stakeholders, partners and communities from across the city.

Members were informed that there were two phases the first being the launch of an on-line survey which opened 2nd August and had been extended to 11^th November. For those unable to access the on-line survey hardcopies were available at Community Hubs, One Stop Centres and Libraries. The officer informed the Committee that currently there had been over 4000 responses.

Members noted that two workshops had taken place on 15th and 20th September. They also noted that the Transport Conversation feedback would be fed into the development of an outline series of proposals for the spend of the £173.5 million, this would be presented to Executive Board on 19th October 2016.

Members were informed of the issues currently facing Transport as:

·  Congestion on major routes in to the city

·  Air quality in the city centre

·  Economy – with increased jobs in the city

·  Change in demographics for all areas

·  Changes in technology including driverless taxis and smart ticketing

·  Population growth

·  Fall in bus usage

·  New housing developments in all areas of the city

·  The Leeds Bradford corridor and the opportunities this link presents

·  The local challenges of Dawsons Corner, A6110 and New Pudsey Station

RESOLVED – That the Community Committee;

·  note the wider strategic context of the Transport Conversation which will extend beyond a first phase conversation into the Spring / Summer of next year, informing a wider transport strategy for the City and your area over the next 20 years;

·  note the Department of Transport £173.5 million offer for public transport improvements, in the context of a currently planned report to Executive Board on 19th October and the planned submission of strategic investment case to the Department of Transport

·  provide feedback and advise on the key priorities for transport investment in the city and the local community.

A question and answer session hosted by Outer West Community Committee and attended by Members, members of the public, the Chief Officer Highways and Transport and Dave Pearson of West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport discussed the following issues:-

·  Dates and times for transport conversation were not always conducive for workers

·  To offer the survey to people travelling to and from work on buses

·  Oystercard system similar to London which has set prices and a regular service – a long discussion took place on this system.

·  Clear routes into the city centre

·  Part way to having Smartcard system, do have M Card which allows travel on all buses

·  The need to move towards a flat fare

·  The use of contactless cards – not able to secure the system for this currently

·  A bus service like London – it was explained that for a city to have its own bus service it needs to have an elected Mayor.

·  Quality bus contracts

·  Better infrastructure

·  Need for fixes in the long, medium and short term

·  More park and ride located around the City

·  Poor bus service in and around Pudsey

·  Transport system in Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle highlighted as having good transport systems

·  Challenges on orbital routes

·  New scheme to make City Square the gateway to the City

·  The need for a scheme to alleviate traffic round Armley Gyratory

·  Lack of parking at train stations

·  Difficult to get to train stations

·  Walkways, and cycle ways not clear from Pudsey to New Pudsey Station, need better lighting on route and at station and make more secure for those on foot or cycling.

·  Need for transport hubs in lead stations and district centres

·  Need to learning from Core City colleagues and experiences of travel systems in Europe

·  Work place parking charges

·  More local railway stations

·  Too many cars on roads

·  Need to consider solutions for crossing the river

·  Need to consider the future of driverless cars

This session lasted 1hour 30 minutes and was an open and honest session enjoyed by all who had attended.

Cllr. Wood said that this was a good process for engaging with the Community on transport issues and was impressed with how the session had been handled by officers.

The Chair thanked Members, Officers and members of the public for attending the meeting.