£173.5m transport package confirmed for Leeds

Proposals to bring about “transformational” improvements to public transport in Leeds have been given a major boost after a £173.5m funding package was confirmed, a year after the £250m trolleybus scheme was rejected.The Department for Transport (DfT) has backed plans to invest in a series of improvements, including new park and ride services, bus priority lanes and modernised transport facilities across the city.The approval will also allow proposals to be further developed for new and improved rail stations including an airport parkway station.The £173.5m of funding was secured for Leeds following the decision not to proceed with the New Generation Transport trolleybus last year, with the funds needing to be committed to public transport schemes before the end of 2021.It will cover a four year period, with West Yorkshire Combined Authority receiving £21m in 2017/18, £48.7m in 2018/19, £49.1m in 2019/20 and £54.7m in 2020/21.In addition, First Group have agreed in principle to commit £71m to providing 284 new low emission buses by 2020 for use in Leeds.