Transport for LondonAppendix 3 - Summary of progress towards the implementation of the Mayor's Transport Strategy
Skip to navigation << Back to indexPriority A: "Reducing traffic congestion"
- Following an extensive public information campaign in winter of 2002, congestion charging was successfully launched in February 2003 this has resulted in a drop of in the number of vehicles on the road and improved driving times within the eight square mile zone, with thousands switching their journey to public transport, primarily buses
- TfL also contributed £13.3 million towards the cost of congestion charging complementary measures such as 20 mph zones in boroughs in 2002/03
- London's buses made a significant contribution to the success of the scheme by introducing major changes to the bus network between 2002 and February 2003, including new routes and new links, bigger or more buses on 75 services, resulting in 11,000 extra spaces during the peak hours. In addition, all the necessary bus priority measures were in place prior to the start date of the scheme
- The launch of the London Traffic Control Centre (LTCC), working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police and bus controllers, is now being used to ensure quick responses to traffic incidents and better management of the road network enabling potential difficulties to be tackled at an earlier stage to ensure congestion is kept to a minimum
- Continuing licensing of London's private hire services is driving up quality and safety and also discouraging private car dependency
- A groundbreaking partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in June 2002 saw the formal launch of the Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU). By March 2003, there were over 500 officers in the TOCU enforcing 20 strategic bus corridors across London. These officers, working closely with other MPS and TfL personnel, provide a highly visible uniformed presence on the public transport network, supporting higher levels of enforcement and targeting action against criminal activity at key hotspots affecting passengers, bus staff and the wider public realm
- Tramlink has led to a reduction of some three to four million car journey's per annum
Priority B "Overcoming the backlog of investment on the Underground so as to safely increase capacity, reduce over crowding and increase both reliability and frequency of service."
- TfL continued to maintain that PPP was not the best way to manage investment for the maintenance and renewal of the Underground
- However, TfL continued to argue for the earliest possible transfer of the Underground to TfL and in February reached an agreement in principle with Government on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for London Underground and of its transfer to TfL
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