The motorway proposals aim to improve public transport and active travel

The £2.91 million proposals aim to reduce bus delays while improving the street environment for visitors and shoppers, with wider pavements, planting and landscaping and more crossing points to encourage active travel.

The scheme is part of Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s successful bid of £7.9m from Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund Tranche 4. In addition to Tranches 1-3, this has created a total combined £22 million secured for Leeds areas.

Plans include:

• Four new pedestrian crossings, two on Armley Town Street, one on Carr Crofts and one on Wesley Road, to improve safety
• Wider sidewalks to facilitate pedestrians and shoppers, better bus waiting areas and greenery
• New cycling and walking links from surrounding streets to Armley Town Street
• Making Armley Town Street from Theaker Lane to Wesley Road a bus-only section which can also be used by black and white taxis, emergency vehicles and cyclists
• New trees and landscaping, including rain gardens that help eliminate surface water runoff
• Better bus waiting areas with upgraded bus stops
• New short stay pick-up/drop-off car park on Theaker Lane, Stocks Hill and Crab Lane, suitable for private hire taxis
• Two road closures on Wesley Road and Theaker Lane to prevent motorists from taking shortcuts on residential streets (rat run)
• A speed reduction from 30 to 20 mph along Armley Town Street to improve safety
• Seven disabled parking spaces retained but relocated and additional loading bays

There will be a reduction in on-street parking on Armley Town Street to facilitate the plans, however short term parking is available nearby at Armley Leisure Center and Home Bargains (formerly Wilko) car park, a 2-3 minute walk away to the city. Street from these locations.

Additional pedestrian crossings and wider sidewalks are intended to make it easier and safer for people to walk and turn around, while relocating and upgrading shelters will provide a better waiting environment for bus passengers.

The bus-only section of Armley Town Street aims to reduce delays by moving vehicular traffic from Armley Town Street onto the main roads of the A647 Stanningley Road and Tong Road, providing a much larger area of ​​Town Street for shoppers, local markets and events.

People are now being asked to share their views on the proposals.

The proposals are part of Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund programme, which is expected to create up to 16 million extra walking and cycling journeys each year in the UK and help Leeds City Council’s ambitions to increase cycling by 400%, walking by 33% and taking buses by 130% through the Leeds Transport Strategy. The plans also aim to make the road safer for all users, in line with the council’s Vision Zero 2040 strategy – an ambition for no one to be killed or seriously injured on Leeds’ roads. To achieve this, new infrastructure projects must provide safer road designs for vulnerable road users, which forgive human error and eliminate the risk of serious injury.

In addition to the Armley Town Street proposals, Leeds City Council has worked in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to secure additional funding from a £6.2m City Region Sustainable Transport Agreement. This work will build on the significant investment already made to facilitate walking, cycling and the use of public transport. Part of this has been earmarked to deliver a healthier streets program aimed at improving cycling and walking links to Armley Town Street and is included in the consultation.

Councilor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“Armley Town Street is an excellent local street and a central hub for local residents in the area. We want to extend this by transforming its look and feel, while improving journeys for people on a bus, on foot or by bike, making them faster, safer and more accessible.

By reducing congestion and general street traffic, we can create a better space for you to enjoy, shop and hang out. If you have a connection to Armley Town Street, we want to hear from you, so please give your feedback on the plans so we can take your views on board as we develop them.”

Cllr Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“Schemes like these are essential to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle, cycle and use public transport in West Yorkshire. I would encourage people to have their say on these proposals to help build a greener, better connected region that works for everyone.”

Have your say

Residents and businesses are being consulted on the proposals until Thursday 22 August 2024. Have your say online by following this link. You can also attend an event:

Thursday, August 8, 2024, between 3-7 p.m.,
Interplay Theatre,
Armley Ridge Road,
LS12 3LE.

To request paper copies of the proposals and survey, or a reasonable adjustment, please contact 0113 336 8868 or email [email protected].

Notes for editors

West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together the local authorities of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield and is chaired by the Mayor of West Yorkshire. Working in partnership, we develop and deliver policies, programs and services that directly benefit the people of West Yorkshire. Our vision is to create a West Yorkshire that is prosperous, well connected, safe, inclusive and a hotbed of creativity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.