New travel routes help unlock York Central

08 Jul 2025 | York Central

York Central travel routes opened on 8 July 2025, providing safer, greener connections across the city. Discover how this development is unlocking York's potential for transport, housing, and community growth.

Members of the York Central Partnership celebrating the new route with a team photo and bikes

New York Central Travel Routes Officially Open to the Public

On 8 July 2025, the city of York celebrated the grand opening of the new York Central travel routes, a transformative milestone in urban infrastructure. This phase is a part of a broader strategy to enhance mobility, connect communities, and foster sustainable city growth.

Delivered by John Sisk & Son Ltd, in collaboration with Homes England and Network Rail, the project replaces a section of Leeman Road with a modern thoroughfare designed for all kinds of travelers, pedestrians, cyclists, bus passengers, and drivers alike.

Hudson Boulevard: The Heart of Sustainable Urban Design

A highlight of the development is Hudson Boulevard, a 480-meter-long landscaped public realm space featuring:

Wide, dedicated cycling and walking paths
Comfortable benches for public use
A stunning rain garden running along the center

Hudson Boulevard also creates a convenient new connection to the rear entrance of York Railway Station, making everyday commutes and leisure trips more pleasant and sustainable.

Public Transport Boosted with New Bus Routes

To improve connectivity further, several bus services – routes 10L, 19, and 59 – now operate along the new road. Strategically placed bus stops along this corridor ensure enhanced accessibility for residents and visitors.

"The opening of the new road, walking and cycling routes is a huge step forward for the project, providing safer and more attractive journeys into the city centre for pedestrians, cyclists, bus users and drivers. The route will not only provide modern sustainable transport infrastructure but will also assist in unlocking York Central for new homes, public realm and commercial space.” - Leon Guyett, Project Director on behalf of Homes England and Network Rail

Unlocking a site like York Central has not been an easy task, with 18,000 square metres of paving, 150 trees, 15km of kerbing, 11km of new drainage and 104,000 tonnes of recycled waste. This complex project to date has been made possible by the dedicated support and expertise of the consultant team including Gleeds, WSP, Tetra Tech, Sweco, Tony Gee and partners, plus the collaborative approach of the wider York Central Partnership led by Homes England, Network and Network Rail with City of York Council, the National Railway Museum and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The opening up of the routes marks a major step in transforming York Central into a connected and sustainable community, unlocking new homes, public spaces and opportunities.

“This is a significant milestone for the York Central project. These new travel routes help to unlock the York Central site which will deliver thousands of homes, well-paid jobs and quality public spaces for everyone to enjoy. “The new routes have safer walking and cycling provision and improved bus and vehicle access. Hudson Boulevard – a dedicated walking and cycling route with beautiful rain gardens and public space along its length – is a particular joy." - Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council

The second phase of the road is under construction and will include building two new bridges over the East Coast mainline to provide a further York Central connection directly to Water End. This will reduce vehicle traffic in the residential area around Salisbury Terrace, creating a safer and quieter neighbourhood for those residents and providing a greater range of safe, fast and sustainable transport options to and from the city.

With the first phase on infrastructure now complete, as strategic development partners we can now progress with our ambition to create a world-class, brand new city quarter in York with thousands of new homes and jobs together with significant public realm.

If you’re planning a trip to explore the city and want to enjoy the newly opened travel routes, check out the Visit York Official Tourism Site for maps, attractions, and visitor guides.

Curious about how the city is adapting to meet modern transport needs? Learn more in our dedicated article on the City of York’s Transport Strategy and see how infrastructure like York Central fits into the bigger picture.

To get the latest updates, timelines, and announcements, visit the official project homepage at the York Central Development Hub.