Bus fares across Leeds could soon be capped at just £2 under new plans announced by West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin.
Reducing ticket prices across West Yorkshire was one of Brabin's major pledges during her election campaign. And at the start of her second year in term, she has revealed a policy to slash ticket prices for passengers in Leeds and beyond.
She wants to cut all single fares across West Yorkshire to just £2. What's more, multi-operator West Yorkshire DaySaver tickets will be cut from £5.50 to £4.50.
Read more: Passengers slam Leeds Bradford Airport 'shambles' this morning with massive queues
It will be a huge boost to commuters battling the cost of living crisis and if approved by the Department for Transport, passengers will see the changes come into effect from September.
LeedsLive reporter Jasmine Norden recently spent £3.50 and £2.90 on two single fares as she travelled across Leeds from Kippax to Pudsey. Brabin's proposed plan will see these fares cut to just £2 each.
She said: "When I became mayor a year ago, I promised to make bus fares simpler and cheaper across West Yorkshire. Through our new Enhanced Partnership with bus operators that’s exactly what we’re doing.
"The proposed new £2 maximum fare will make a difference to people’s lives, helping to make bus travel an affordable choice. It will significantly cut the cost of travel for people making journeys over 3 miles, in some cases by £1.50.
"You can hop on a bus from Marsh to Lindley, Bradford to Keighley or Halifax to Leeds and know that you won’t have to pay more than £2 for your trip.
"And the full roll-out of ‘tap-on, tap-off’ next year means people won’t have to plan their journeys in advance – they can travel on as many buses as they need for the whole day and never pay more than £4.50.
"We’ll also be investing over £25m to develop new bus routes to reconnect those communities left isolated by recent service changes, particularly in our towns and villages, to help people reach health and leisure services, work and learning opportunities, and to see family and friends. Our consultations on which new and existing routes to support will begin next month.
"I want people to see buses as the first choice for the journey they want to make. The investments we’re making to reduce fares, develop new routes and introduce new zero emission buses mean they will be a cost-effective environmentally-friendly way to travel in West Yorkshire for years to come."
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford City Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, added: "The cost of living crisis demands bold action. So this is an ambitious plan for urgent times from the mayor and West Yorkshire leaders.
"Sustaining economic recovery is going to need all our efforts and resources both at regional and national level. Buses are a key part of our economic recovery plans and we will do all we can with the funding available to improve services."
Read next:
