Transport experts from Leeds and Huddersfield have joined forces to drive forward West Yorkshire\u2019s \u00a32.5bn Mass Transit scheme.<\/p>\n
Currently Europe\u2019s largest metropolitan area without a large-scale urban transit system, plans recently given the green light by government could see trams run between Bradford and Leeds by the mid-2030s.<\/p>\n
A new initiative, called the Centre for Transport in Cities (Centric), brings researchers from the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS)<\/a> at the University of Leeds and the Institute of Railway Research<\/a> (IRR) at the University of Huddersfield into a strategic alliance with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n An official signing ceremony between the two universities, the Mayor of West Yorkshire and representatives from WYCA took place at the University of Leeds during the UK Light Rail Conference.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n West Yorkshire Mass Transit has the potential to be an exemplar for the delivery of a modern integrated mass transit scheme.<\/p>\n
Through Centric, the two universities will inform the planning, economics and railway engineering behind the Mass Transit proposals while ensuring that leading edge academic expertise in transport will feed into West Yorkshire\u2019s future transport plans.<\/p>\n They will advise on major regional investments in road, rail, bus and active travel, while developing a \u2018blueprint\u2019 that can be shared to support urban transport schemes worldwide.<\/p>\n Following a consultation on route options last summer, which received nearly 5,000 responses and strong support for trams running between Leeds and Bradford, the Combined Authority intends to hold a further public consultation in 2026 with work due to commence in 2028.<\/p>\n Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: \u201cOur ambition to get spades in the ground on our Mass Transit network by 2028 is on track, but there is still plenty of work to do. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s why it’s vital for us to call upon the talent and expertise we have right here in West Yorkshire to help us create a state-of-the-art transport system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nRichard Batley, Professor of Transport Demand and Valuation at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
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