Core Strategy Baseline Analysis Study - Bradford Metropolitan ...

Table : Car ownership in Bradford District-2
% of H’hlds with no
cars or vans
Cars or vans per
H’hlds
England and Wales 26.8 1.11
West Yorkshire 32.2 0.98
Bradford District 32.3 0.97 309
Source: Census 2001
9.2.4 Congestion
Rank (out of 378
LAs)
Congestion in Bradford is not a district wide problem though there are hot spots, especially at
peak times. Whilst there is little change recorded at particular periods it is clear that public
perception believes there to be increasing congestion. This is most likely manifested in
lengthening of peak periods as drivers seek to avoid congestion. Studies included in the LTP
reveal that whilst many of the key junctions and the corridors leading to them are congested
in the morning peak period, a substantial number are remaining so throughout the inter-peak
period, especially on the outer ring road, in the city centre and Airedale. (Congestion is
defined as traffic speeds less than 70% of speed limit.) This is a concern for those journeys
involving either travelling as part of the working procedure or the transfer of goods and
equipment.
The Bradford District Transport Study 86 has identified eight major radial routes to and from
central Bradford as being the most important transport corridors within the district. Of those
eight radial routes, three were identified in the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan as
having regional significance and designated ‘Congestion Corridors’.
The radial routes and congestion corridors within the Bradford district are:
1: A647 Leeds Road (Congestion Corridor);
2: A650 Wakefield Road;
3: A641 Manchester Road (Congestion Corridor is Little Horton Lane);
4: A647 Great Horton Road;
5: B6145 Thornton Road;
6: A650 Aire Valley Road (Congestion Corridor);
7: A6037 Canal Road;
8: A658 Harrogate Road.
The recent update of the West Yorkshire Urban Congestion Target Delivery Plan (UCTDP)
has highlighted the current levels of congestions on these 3 Bradford congestion corridors
which are among the 13 specifically chosen routes across the region to tackle congestion.
The average journey time for vehicles on A650 Mannigham Lane is 5 mins/mile, equating an
average speed of just 12mph, although that speed falls to an even lower level during peak
periods. The average journey time on A647 Leeds Road is 4min 30 seconds and 3min 45
seconds on Little Horton Lane.
86 The Bradford District Transport Study (Interim report by Steer Davies Gleave, 2009)
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