Saturday, April 4 2009
Transport planner JMP is developing proposals for new local or community bus services to improve accessibility to employment, services and facilities in West Yorkshire.
The outcome will support a future application from Metro (West Yorkshire PTE) to Yorkshire Forward for funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
JMP’s main tasks are to work up existing conceptual proposals for improving accessibility, including bus links from Leeds city centre to the Lower Aire Valley and from south east Wakefield to Glasshoughton. Options will be explored for additional new bus links to improve accessibility between south east Wakefield and the Dearne Valley and in Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees Districts.
Evidence of need will be identified in broad terms and at this stage there will be no consultation with bus operators. JMP will also provide indications of costs, patronage and the level of support required.
JMP will use knowledge of key employment, retail and leisure sites and future employment development to help in identifying route options. Where possible the aim will be to serve more than one journey purpose to try to deliver some financially robust options.
There will be consultation with the five districts in West Yorkshire, Jobcentre Plus West Yorkshire, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Aire Valley Project in Leeds.