As a result of being asked by the Government to re-submit the city’s bid for the planned Leeds New Generation Transport (NGT) trolleybus network, Metro and Leeds City Council have been able to more than double the scheme’s benefit to cost ratio.
“There are a number of factors that have enabled us to improve the scheme’s cost to benefit ratio, which means that now for every £1 of Government money spent, NGT would generate £5.90 in benefits,” explained Metro Chairman Councillor James Lewis
“Those factors include the availability of an enhanced computer transport modelling system which has enabled us to gather much more up-to-date information on traffic levels in Leeds, as well as some revisions to the way the Department for Transport appraises projects. We have also been able to optimise trolleybus journey times maximising the overall public transport benefits of NGT and earmark a larger local contribution to the scheme, therefore substantially reducing the call on Government funding.”
Additional forecast demand for trolleybus use and the additional revenue that would be generated would also bring down costs to the Government, explained Cllr James Lewis.
“We still believe that before the Government’s spending review the NGT trolleybus network met the requirements set when the DfT encouraged us to pursue a bus-based alternative after deciding it couldn’t afford Leeds Supertram,” said Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council's executive member responsible for city development.. “However we have taken the opportunity of the Coalition’s re-bidding process to use the latest technology and information available to improve the bids and reduce the cost to the Government.”
