A new bus network has been launched today which will helps users navigate Leeds quickly and easily.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has launched the new Leeds Core Bus Network, a colour-coded system that will help users navigate the Leeds bus network with ease.
The bus network is transforming the look and feel of bus stop infrastructure on the core bus network in Leeds. Coupled with user-friendly signage, 2,300 bus stops will be receiving a facelift, greatly enhancing the user experience.
New network maps will include named and coloured bus lines to help users find which bus they need to take with greater ease. The maps will be at most bus stops along with the Core Network and available online, making journey planning around Leeds much simpler.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working closely with bus operators and journey planners like Google and Moovit to integrate the new lines into their app.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “Whoever you are, wherever you live and whatever the purpose of your journey, taking the bus needs to be efficient, cost-effective and dare I say it, a pleasure.
“I am therefore fully behind the creation of the new Core Network and as set out in my manifesto, I am looking at how travelling by bus can be further improved and more attractive.
“My plan is to bring buses back under public control and build an integrated transport system. As I have said before, if this kind of system is good enough for London, it is good enough for West Yorkshire.”
The new Leeds city centre map is also divided into zones, enabling passengers to easily identify where to catch their bus from when returning home or journeying onwards from the city centre.
The Core Bus Network is made up of 18 bus lines for services that run every 15 minutes or better. The network also includes bus services that provide direct express services from the city centre to key locations across Leeds.
Leeds City Council executive board member for infrastructure and climate, Councillor Helen Hayden said: “It is great that work has started on transforming bus stops in Leeds, making the city a better place for people to travel. Wayfinding and information enhancements at bus stops already began in May 2021 and are due to be completed by Autumn 2021, not long now.
“I hope this new way of helping passengers navigate the bus network will attract people back to public transport as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and drive-up bus usage over the longer term.
“With 79% of addresses in Leeds within a 7-minute walk of a core network bus stop, I think I can say with certainty that it has never been a better time to travel by bus in Leeds.”
The funding for the Leeds Core Bus Network project has been secured from Government as part of an overall allocation of £173.5 million from the Department for Transport, plus local contributions topping this investment for transport improvements in Leeds up to £183.4 million.
With match funding from local bus operating companies’ investment in their fleet and other contributions, this increases the overall funding package to £270 million. The initiative is part of the long-term Connecting Leeds transport strategy, which aims to improve all aspects of the transport network in the city and connectivity with the wider Leeds City Region.
Cllr Kim Groves, West Yorkshire Combined Authority commented: “The Core Bus Network will be a fantastic asset to Leeds, and I cannot wait for roll-out across other cities in West Yorkshire. I am looking forward to taking the bus and I am particularly excited by the real-time information screens at bus stops.
“I think the new bus stop flags which show all the services that run from that stop will be well very welcomed by passengers.
“I think in addition to the practical benefits to understanding routes, there is also the advantage that passengers can plan better day trips and fun things with family and friends as meeting people and going to new places will be far easier to plan for bus users.”
The West Yorkshire Core Bus Network project, which has an allocation of £15.5m as part of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), will see improvements across the whole of West Yorkshire.
