ℹ SOUTH ACCOMMODATION ROAD TRANSPORT INTERVENTION

Reminder: Tuesday the 14th of October is the last day to feedback on these proposals. There is an FAQ at the bottom of this post.

South Accommodation Road is a major route into and around the city centre but there are capacity constraints at East Street, where South Accommodation Road, A61 John Smeaton flyover and A63 Pontefract Lane meet in Cross Green and at peak times, general traffic and bus services face large delays.

Journeys on South Accommodation Road are made worse by general traffic bypassing the strategic route network (A639 Hunslet Road) and travelling north on National Road and Atkinson Street, which then gain natural priority at the Clarence Road roundabout, causing rat-runs what were never intended exist.

Some eastbound bus journeys can take 20 minutes to complete a 500metre journey from Hunslet Road to Cross Green due to all this, making it less likely for people to use the bus, in turn resulting in more car trips.

There are up to 15 buses an hour using this route and these delays are having a significant impact on the reliability of the wider network, impacting thousands of bus users a day.

Leeds City Council have secured up to £450,000 of funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Levelling Up Fund 2 Bus Hotspots programme to improve bus journey times in this area, with small additional benefits for pedestrians and cyclists but also improving the crossing point at Atkinson Street.

The attached proposals include:

- A new eastbound (city-bound) 24-hour bus lane starting from Hunslet Road and continuing along South Accommodation Road. 24-hours is needed to align with the 24-hour bus lane on Hunslet Road to ensure consistency.

- Relocation of the eastbound bus stop on South Accommodation Road, to where there is a full heigh kerb and providing a dedicated bus stop flagpole.

- Part signalisation of the southern arm of the Clarence Road roundabout to improve all traffic flow. This will also support prioritising Hunslet Hall Road over National Road by adding a delay.

- Relocation of the pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities at Atkinson Street to improve safety and accessibility.

Highways Leeds have done extensive traffic modelling of these proposals, and their evidence shows:

- City-bound buses could see an average journey saving of up to 5 minutes at peak times, supporting great bus use and low traffic volumes in general.

- Overall, city-bound general traffic journeys would be improved due to improved traffic flow at the Clarence Road roundabout.

The modelling shows this change will help to create a more reliable and efficient bus service, reduce congestion for other road users and support more sustainable travel choices. But they are one park of a wider work to address traffic conflicts across the city centre network, including congestion on East Street that causes significant tailbacks.

More information can be found at https://saccommodationroad.commonplace.is/

Tuesday the 14th of October is the last day to feedback on these proposals.

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FAQ:

Q: What are the intended timescales for this scheme?

A: The scheme will be delivered January to March 2026.

Q: Why are you converting general traffic lanes into bus lanes?

A: This area carries up to 15 buses an hour. By giving buses their own dedicated space, we can cut journey times and make public transport more reliable—especially during peak periods.

The scheme will reduce the average bus journey time by up to 5 minutes in the AM peak times, on a route with up to 15 buses an hour. It will make bus journeys more reliable.

Q: Why is South Accommodation Road being used for bus priority, instead of other potential routes into the city centre?

A: South Accommodation Road is a key strategic route into the city centre and often faces congestion.

There are 15 buses an hour that use South Accommodation Road. They serve a large residential and industrial area. Other routes into the city centre also see congestion but have little opportunity to provide bus priority measures. These proposals aim to improve traffic flow at the Atkinson Street roundabout for all vehicles.

There is an option to convert a general lane of traffic into a bus lane to get buses to the front of the queue, without reducing any capacity for general traffic.

Q: Congestion is mainly an issue during morning and evening peak periods, why will the bus lane be operational outside of these hours?

A: The aim of this scheme is to reduce bus journey times and improve their reliability. This route continues a frequency of up to 15 buses an hour between, and beyond, the traditional peak periods.

It is important to ensure bus services are reliable for all users, at any time of the day. This will give greater opportunities to always invest in public bus services.

Other vehicles such as emergency vehicles, hackney taxis and non-scheduled bus services can use and benefit from bus lanes too. Additionally, Hunslet Lane has a 24-hour bus lane. To keep the highway legible for drivers and reduce confusion, it is important to remain consistent with nearby areas of the network

Q: Will any bus stops be relocated?

A: Yes. The eastbound bus stop on South Accommodation Road will be relocated 50metres to the west. This is so that when buses stop, they do not block a private access. Putting the bus stop where there is a full height kerb also makes the stop more accessible for people when getting on or off the bus.

Q:. Will any bus stops be relocated?

A: Yes. The eastbound bus stop on South Accommodation Road will be relocated 50metres to the west. This is so that when buses stop, they do not block a private access. Putting the bus stop where there is a full height kerb also makes the stop more accessible for people when getting on or off the bus.

Q: What changes are happening at Atkinson Street roundabout?

A: We're introducing new traffic signals at the southern arm of the roundabout, resurfacing parts of the roundabout, and relocating and improving toucan (pedestrian and cycle) crossings. These upgrades aim to improve traffic flow at the roundabout and make journeys, by all modes, smoother.

Q: Will the proposals make car journeys slower?

A: In some places, yes. For example, southbound journeys on Hunslet Road may take up to 30 seconds longer. Overall, there is no reduction in the capacity of the network. The improved traffic flow on the Atkinson Street roundabout will help to reduce delays for all traffic, including buses, on South Accommodation Road, which supports the wider network.

Q: What are the anticipated benefits of the scheme for cyclists and pedestrians?

A: On South Accommodation Road, the shared use path will have less traffic sign poles, which reduces “street clutter” and new tactile paving will be included to indicate the start and end of shared space. There will be more space for pedestrians and cycle users, which reduces conflict points and tactile paving increases accessibility.