Public Transport www.leedscivictrust.org.uk Bus Services To improve reliability and Regulation would enable the enhance journey times, the city public authorities to use public The bus is the workhorse of should implement and enforce subsidies more efficiently to local public transport in Leeds. bus priority measures on all strengthen the entire network, Despite the decline in patronage key bus routes, beginning with rather than being confined to since the 1980s, buses account the city centre and major radial supporting loss-making routes. for the majority of public corridors. Bus priority should Moreover, profits from busy transport trips across the city be complemented by on-board routes can be used to support and we believe their role should measures to facilitate swift less popular routes to build be strengthened. The current boarding and alighting, including and maintain a more bus network has evolved slowly multiple doors, smart payment comprehensive network. over many decades but it has and a simplified fare structure. rarely been systematically It would allow for the planning evaluated to take account of To improve the user experience, of a truly integrated multi-modal changes in land use. The whole vehicles should be comfortable network in which bus services network should be reviewed on and clean. Accurate, real time link up with railway stations. a first principles basis in information should be available In a regulated market, it is response to present patterns via smartphones and displays possible to deliver a simple of demand and social need. at most bus stops. The city’s and fully integrated ticketing The aim should be to develop bus fleet should contribute system with multi-modal a high frequency bus network to improving air quality by fare-capping. This eliminates operating on all key radial and converting to ultra-low and, confusion and gives users orbital routes across the day. ultimately, zero emission vehicles. the confidence that they will never over-pay for bus Evidence from bus systems A new bus network would and rail services. address the particular across the world indicates that shortcomings of the in order to achieve these goals, We recognise that a publicly- existing network: regulation of the bus market is regulated bus system will still necessary. In such a market, be required to make difficult • infrequent services, bus operators deliver services trade-offs between commercial particularly in the evenings under contract to the public imperatives and social need. and on Sundays; transport authority which The city must balance the need • the weakness of determines the routes, fares, to generate revenue and cater orbital services; service levels and vehicle to areas of high demand with its specifications. Operators obligation to provide a minimum • the circuitous nature of compete for contracts and level of service to everyone, some radial routes; the winners are held to including in lower density and • the low quality of services account for their performance. peripheral areas. Regulation to many recent developments The city would be able to invite allows the city to hold those who on the urban fringe; operators from around the plan and operate the network to • the virtual absence of world to bid for services in account. This should provide night bus services, despite the Leeds City Region. a firm foundation for an the thriving night-time High performing operators honest discussion about economy; and can be properly rewarded. these compromises. • poor services between small towns and villages in the district. www.leedscivictrust.org.uk Park & Ride Rail Services Platforms for High Speed 2 (HS2) must be constructed Building on the success of The railway network should adjoining the existing station existing schemes, the city should provide rapid links between the to ensure integration between develop further park & ride major cities, towns and suburbs high speed and classic rail facilities on suitable sites on the in the Leeds City Region. services, Any redevelopment edge of the urban area. This will Functioning like a German scheme should allow for a future provide an attractive alternative S-bahn system, there should be east-west Northern Powerhouse to the car for users who frequent services throughout Rail (NPR) route. In addition, have limited access to public the day. The stopping services high speed lines should be transport near the start of the regional network should configured to enable HS2 and of their journey, such as be complemented by express NPR services to run through commuters and visitors from services to other City Regions. Leeds station, allowing for surrounding districts. Park & Major investment in rail enhanced rail services between ride helps to reduce the need infrastructure is needed Leeds and South Yorkshire, for city centre car parking. to develop such a system: across the Pennines, the North East and Scotland. However, bus-based park & ride • new stations should be locations will only be attractive opened in key locations; if the buses have significant priority over other traffic en • new sections of track are route to their destinations. required to plug key gaps in It must also be competitive the network, including links with the cost of parking in the to the Spen Valley, Otley, city centre. The city should not, Wetherby and Ossett, however, lean too heavily on and between Castleford park & ride. The long-term goal and Garforth; of transport strategy in the city • the entire network region should be to increase should be electrified; the proportion of residents who have access to public transport • major expansion of track and for the whole of their trip. line capacity is needed at Leeds station, which functions as the hub of the network, including the opening of new through and terminal platforms and increased capacity on the line between Leeds and York. www.leedscivictrust.org.uk Integration of Paying for Public Transport Public Transport We support the full integration Public transport fares must be of public transport in Leeds, competitive with the overall allowing seamless transfers cost of using other modes between services and modes and affordable for everyone. with users able to use the Currently, off-peak single Bus-based park & ride same payment system to and day fares are not always locations will only be make all journeys. Ticketing attractive to car owners. attractive if the buses products should apply across Meanwhile, low income users, have significant priority all modes and operators. who often do not have access over other traffic en route to their destinations. to a car, are often priced out The timetabling of services, of making trips on buses the design of the network and trains. Daily, weekly and and the physical design of key monthly fare-capping reduces hubs should facilitate easy the anxiety around selecting interchange between services a public transport fare by and modes. In Leeds city centre, guaranteeing that a user will there is a particular need to pay the lowest price for the enhance opportunities for trips they actually make. interchange between bus and rail services (including HS2) While many of the measures and between different city we recommend will enable bus services. public transport to operate more efficiently and reduce costs, there is a need for subsidy to ensure fares are attractive and to maintain a satisfactory level of service. This is likely to be particularly true in the earlier phases of implementing improvements and for off-peak and orbital services. You can contact us at: Find us online: Leeds Civic Trust is a Company Leeds Civic Trust www.leedscivictrust.org.uk Limited by Guarantee. 17-19 Wharf Street facebook.com/leedscivictrust Registration Number Leeds LS2 7EQ @LeedsCivicTrust 2742348 in England. Telephone: Registered Charity Number 0113 243 9594 1014362. Email: [email protected].