West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has called on the government to approve £1bn funding in the upcoming Spending Review to get construction of the £2.5bn Leeds-Bradford tram started by 2028.
Speaking during a briefing in Westminster, Brabin stated the funding must be approved this summer to allow construction on the West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme to begin by 2028.
She said: “There are going to be loads of challenges. We are going to have to make the case for £1bn, which is going to unlock £11bn and thousands and thousands of jobs.”
The initiative aims to develop a high-capacity public transport network integrating cycling, walking and rail, to improve connectivity across the region.
West Yorkshire, home to 2.3M people and boasting an economic output of nearly £70bn, is notably Europe’s largest metropolitan area lacking an urban transit system. Residents have been calling out for a suitable mass transit system for decades.
Brabin continued: “We know that if we are going to grow the economy we have to invest in transport.
“It’s going to be a rocky journey because there will be questions about cost.”
Consultations for the project have focused on two main lines for the first phase: the Leeds line and the Bradford line.
The Leeds line options include routes near the White Rose shopping centre and some serving Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium. The proposed routes target key locations including Leeds General Infirmary, The South Bank, Holbeck and Beeston.
In addition, three potential routes are being considered for the Bradford line, aimed at connecting Bradford and Leeds city centres and covering areas such as Thornbury, Laisterdyke, Pudsey, Armley and Wortley.
In February, WYCA stated out of 4,845 individuals and organisations who responded to their consultations on the routes, over two thirds supported a route connecting Leeds and Bradford.
On top of this, WYCA further said that more than 75% supported the proposal for a line from St James’s Hospital in the north to the White Rose Shopping Centre in the south of Leeds. A decision is yet to be made on either of the preferred routes.
Brabin posted a statement that stated: “To grow the economy, we need to invest in transport. We’re on a mission to get spades in the ground on a tram network by 2028.
“This is going to be a game changer for West Yorkshire, and we’re determined to deliver.”
At NCE’s Rail and Transit conference in July 2024, WYCA executive director, transport Simon Warburton spoke about the aims and development of the project.
“Combined authorities have the scope to really capitalise on the relationship between the right connectivity and economic growth,” he said. “Bringing together our transport planning, our community planning, our support for economic regeneration, we can really promote transit-oriented development.”
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