Consultants Jacobs and Mott MacDonald have secured the job to design the £2.5bn West Yorkshire Mass Transit Programme.

The Jacobs – Mott MacDonald consortium will support the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in further developing the mass transit programme’s first phases, which includes Light Rapid Transit.

The government has allocated an initial £200m to develop the plans between now and 2027. This will cover design, consultation, environmental appraisal, consenting and some initial enabling works.

First construction could begin by 2028, with phase one to include two lines serving Leeds and Bradford.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s interim director of Mass Transit Rob Leech said: “Mass Transit is a significant part of our ambition to create an integrated transport system for West Yorkshire.

“We are delighted to be working with the Jacobs – Mott MacDonald consortium who will support us to achieve our vision to bring Mass Transit to our region.”