Agenda item

To receive the report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transport  which provides the Community Committee with feedback from the Transport Conversation and specifically the feedback from this committee and community area, as well as a summary of the Leeds wide transport proposals and development of a Leeds Transport Strategy.

(Report attached)

The Chair again read an email that he had received from a local resident at the start of this presentation as Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation had not been present at the start of the meeting. Minute 29 refers.

The Community Committee had received the report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transport, Gary Bartlett which updated the Members on the Leeds Transport Conversation following the report, presentation and workshop at the Committee in September 2016.

The Chief Officer explained that from the feedback received residents had provided suggestions they wished to see on both short and long term improvements. He said that it was not surprising that people had fed back they preferred to travel by car for the following reasons; comfort, door to door, and reliability rather than use public transport.

The Chief Officer said that overall the response to the survey had been high and that a total to 680 respondents were from the Outer West area this was 8% of the overall feedback returned. The top three priorities for transport investment indicated by the Outer West respondents was:-

·  Criticism of the cycling improvements/waste of money

·  Invest in tram system

·  More reliable bus service

It was also noted that other key issues highlighted were improvements to cycle facilities, expanded rail service, tackling traffic congestion, cheaper/better bus fleets, better connections with surrounding areas and a more frequent bus service.

The Chief Officer provided examples of work already ongoing in the Outer West area this included:-

·  Highway improvements to roundabouts at Thornbury and Rodley

·  Improved parking at New Pudsey Station and were currently looking at improving access also.

The Members noted that the two park and ride schemes at Elland Road and Temple Green were being well used and it was hoped that other park and rides would be completed in the future.

Neil Wallace from WYCA was also at the meeting. He provided Members with information on investment into the bus services.

Mr Wallace informed the Members that by 2020 Leeds would have 248 new buses. The new buses would all be of the low emission standard, have free wifi and next stop announcements. He said that not only were First Bus to use low emission buses but also Arriva and Transdev were committed to this.

The Committee heard that the bus services were looking at improvements to the following:-

·  the reliability of the buses;

·  long journey times;

·  poor connectivity between bus and rail networks

Mr Wallace advised Members that the bus service was developing a scheme for more real time information in shelters and on bus stops where no shelter was provided.

In response to Members questions the Committee were provided with the following information:-

·  To address issues of air quality the bus services First, Arriva and Transdev would be converted to electric buses by 2020. It was noted that electric buses were already being trialled in Leeds.

·  That buses had an agreement that engines would not be left idling in centre but this was the responsibility of individual drivers. It was noted that many of the buses now had stop start technology and when an engine has been idling for 4 minutes the engine stops.

·  The low emission buses were at Euro 6 standard.

·  The first trials of electric double decker buses had been successful

·  The proposed Stourton Park and Ride will be an improvement on the Elland Road and Temple Green park and ride and will improve journey times into the city centre

·  Three railway stations had been identified for funding within the £173.5 million. However, it was not known if the station at Wortley was to be reinstated. Officers were to take this back to check and inform Farnley/ Wortley Ward Members.

The Chair welcomed the improvements at New Pudsey Station with the increase in parking facilities, but expressed concerns that train lengths also needed to increase if people were to use the trains.

The Committee heard that from 2019/20 the rail network was to introduce trains which would be able to take larger number of commuters.

RESOLVED – The Community Committee:-

·  To note the feedback from the Transport Conversation and its input into the £173.5m public transport improvements and informing a wider transport strategy for the City and the Outer South area over the next 20 years.

·  To note the overall progression of Leeds Transport and £173.5m public transport schemes in Leeds overall.

·  To note progression of major transport schemes with the Outer West area.

·  To provide feedback to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on the proposals for the Transport Hubs and network proposals.