Road and Rail Reimagined

By Gareth Brown

My entry focusses on 4 key areas: Rail capacity, Road redesign & reduction, Tram-Train route preservation & cycle permeability.

Rail Capacity - in order to provide a rail halt at Marsh Lane, and futureproof capacity East of Leeds station in advance of HS2 then a new modern 2 track viaduct South of the existing one would be built. Beneath it a covered cycle and walkway, also providing a canopy for businesses using the arches of the existing viaduct. This would provide direct traffic free and covered access to the heart of the city on foot and bike. Furthermore it would mean the bottleneck for rail East of Leeds would be solved. Minimal demolition of low grade existing buildings would be required. Stopping services at a new Marsh Lane station wouldn't hold up express trains.

Road Redesign - rather than Crown Point Road cutting the proposed new City Park in 2, Black Bull Street would be made 2 way and Crown Point Road turned over to the City Park/access only. Similarly the wasted open space in front of Quarry House would be reconfigured so as to make a more useful space less taken up by cars. Traffic running south of the Ibis Budget hotel would be diverted to run around the north to access Kirkgate etc.

Tram-Train future route would be reserved even if funding not secured. There is already a pre existing junction at street level by the proposed Marsh Lane station. Here trains could leave the main line to access Leeds City Centre. It will be far cheaper to "masterplan" this now.

Cycling - every single change made within the Masterplan will encompass segregated cycleways.

Of course also the footbridge over the Aire to the Armouries would also see direct access to/from East Street improved.

Plenty more to do/consider but these are my "big" ideas.

Key for Masterplan

Purple = New Marsh Lane Rail Halt
Black line = reserved route for future Tram-Train (route to be reserved in advance of securing funding)
Blue line = new & existing segregated cycleway
Green hatched area = road turnover over to green space/access only
Grey hatched area = new roadway to accommodate diverted traffic flow
Red hatched area = space reserved to allow 4 track in to Leeds station of heavy rail (space underneath = covered cycleway/canopy)