The key city centre route between the centre of Leeds and Hyde Park and Woodhouse aims to improve journeys for people walking, cycling and using public transport.
The plans follow on from a consultation earlier this year where the public were asked what issues they faced along the route, and the changes and improvements they would like to see.
As one of the busiest cycle routes in Leeds with over 1,000 cyclists using it daily, it suffers from a high casualty rate with 161 reported casualties happening since 2014, with more than 50 per cent of the casualties involved a person walking or cycling.
Results from the initial consultation have helped create travel proposals for the route that which includes:
- Segregated cycle tracks along the route
- Wider or upgraded pavements for pedestrians, and the potential for street cafes.
- New public spaces with trees, benches and greenery
- Simplifying traffic movements at key junctions
- New or extended bus lanes
- Wider, straight across pedestrian crossings
- The removal of the central bus island on Woodhouse Lane
- Upgraded bus waiting areas, with improved bus shelters, real-time information screens, and the possibility of self-seedum roofs on some shelters.
- Continuous crossings on selected streets along the route.
- New trees and landscaping along the route.
The proposals span 2 kilometres in length, with three of the city’s universities as well as leisure and hospitality businesses on route.
The scheme is run in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with £20.5 million funding coming from the £830 million City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), and a further £400,000 coming from section 106 developer contributions.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “This route is a key artery into and out of Leeds City Centre linking it to the busy neighbourhoods of Woodhouse, Hyde Park, Headingley and beyond.
“However, its current layout makes it unsafe for all road users but especially those who walk, wheel or cycle.
“The plans will not only uplift the look of the area and create new public spaces for people to enjoy, they will transform how people get around, creating alternative travel options for residents while aiming to reduce casualty numbers and achieve the Leeds Safe Roads Vision Zero 2040 Strategy goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injury on Leeds’ roads by 2040.”
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