Congestion R. 2

http://www.transportforleeds.com/About/effects

How is congestion affecting Leeds?
Congestion makes journey times longer and more unreliable. Queues and cancellations cause frustration and delays for commuters travelling to and from work.

Congestion can also create additional costs for businesses, which to operate efficiently need reliable delivery times and a workforce that is able to arrive on time.

Leeds - one of the UK's fastest growing cities
With almost a third of all jobs in the City Region located in the city itself, Leeds is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities.

Between 2000 and 2006, the number of rail passengers arriving at Leeds Station between 7.30am and 9am increased by 25%.

Traffic on our roads has grown at the same time and that growth has resulted in congestion becoming an increasing problem for car users and bus passengers.

Congestion has resulted in:
Most roads coming into the city centre being unable to take any more traffic in the rush hours.
The traditional rush hour extending, starting earlier and finishing later.
cars (most carrying just one person) and buses being delayed by heavier traffic levels.
People switching to the rail network meaning many trains are now very overcrowded during the peak periods.

Addressing the problem now
Allowing traffic levels to continue growing could slow business growth in Leeds. Through Transport for Leeds, we want to ensure that growth is not restricted by levels of congestion that have unacceptable effects on travellers, the local environment and public health.

How can we tackle congestion in Leeds?

Here are some ways in which we think congestion could be tackled. But don't forget we want to hear your ideas and opinions.
Initial analysis suggests that a 10% reduction in the number of peak-time car trips (like those experienced during the school holiday periods) would reduce average journey times by approximately 20%.

Ways of achieving this might include:

More flexible working and opportunities for people to work from home;
New and improved public transport;
New types of public transport such as the New Generation Transport System being developed for the city, and tram trains;
Increased capacity on public transport - providing room for more people to travel;
Other public transport improvements such as increased frequencies,
more reliable journeys, better quality services, vehicles and information;
New and improved walking and cycling facilities;
Measures to encourage people to travel in ways other than the private car;
Investigating how demand management might help and encourage people to travel at less congested times, on routes that are less congested, or to reduce the number of trips they make by car.

What you can do to help
Reducing the level of traffic on the roads into Leeds by encouraging
people to switch from their cars to other ways of travelling would
require a significant investment in new public transport.