Trams in York should be brought back to transform the city’s air quality and cut congestion.
York has previously been named one of the most polluted cities in the country and according to the recent IPCC climate change report, we have 12 years to transform to a low carbon economy.
Highways England has said that, the congestion impact for the A64 of the York Central site alone is unacceptable.
The poor air quality is caused by diesel fumes from vehicles, this not only damages the environment for visitors but puts residents’ health at risk.
York’s Green Party is calling for more to be done about this.
Cllr Andy D’Agorne, leader of the party in City of York Council, believes that we can’t just rely on cleaner vehicles as an answer to the problem.
“While electric buses are a step forward, trams don’t need charging facilities and are more energy efficient, with larger capacity for peak time travel.
The success of tram network in Freiburg, Germany has meant that a settlement of 5000 now has over 70% of households car free, due to the tram link into the city.
Modern electric trams are more efficient and permanent than bus routes as a long-term investment, with the mostly dedicated routes enabling them to avoid traffic congestion.”
By using the existing railway lines serving Strensall and Haxby to the City centre, there could be potential for a new tram network here.
“There might also be potential for a new spur line serving the community stadium at Monks Cross, halt at York Hospital and a new line out to the University Campus.”
Cost
Such facilities are not cheap, but the Local Plan for the expansion of York, has no public transport strategy in place “and envisages ever increasing use of private cars by residents, among the 15,000 new homes built by 2031.”
The funding would have to come from a bid to government through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which funds other transport projects in York, Cllr D’Agorne said.
How do trams compare to other modes of transport, in terms of CO2?
Find out HERE
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