Transport for LondonStreet Management
Skip to navigationTfL committed a substantial level of investment on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) over the last year to address the inherited backlog of maintenance and produce an overall improvement in its quality.
There were further increases in carriageway re-surfacing and reconstruction and works to improve the condition of principal roads on the TLRN. This has resulted in a decrease in the percentage of roads in need of repair from 14.2 per cent to 11.5 per cent, making them safer for all users.
The major £15.5 million refurbishment to extend the life of the southbound Blackwall Tunnel by 30 years is nearing completion and work commenced on the Coulsdon Town Centre Improvement Scheme in January 2004, with the expectation that the by-pass will be complete in two years time. Those living in the Cousldon area or using the road, should find it improves access and traffic flow in the town centre, as well as delivering priority lanes for buses, taxis, lorries and motorcycles and giving better pedestrian and cycle facilities.
Major improvement works are continuing on the A13. Once finished, users and residents should see a very real benefit in the reduction of accidents and congestion and the improved reliability of transport connections.
For passengers at Vauxhall Cross, changing between bus, rail and Tube has proved difficult, with pedestrians and cyclists having to use a road dominated by cars and lorries. TfL in partnership with the Mayor of London, Cross River Partnership, London Development Agency and London Borough of Lambeth has worked on a major project to improve the interchange. The scheme, due to be completed in 2004, will result in a fully integrated interchange, with easier access and changes between modes.
In May 2003, we established the Directorate of Traffic Management with a remit to minimise disruption and optimise traffic operations on London's main roads. Its programme of activities to 'get London moving' includes the development of a pilot system that will reduce the disruption from street works by planning, co-ordinating and permitting road and street works in London.
The Road and Street Works Centre of Excellence is committed to reducing the traffic impact of the one million road openings in London every year. Improving traffic flow for everyone is a key objective of the Traffic Management Act 2004, which has now received Royal Assent.
The legislation is positively welcomed by TfL, which has been active in providing support for its development.
The London Traffic Control Centre constantly monitors traffic and takes action to reduce congestion arising from accidents, road works, demonstrations and similar disruptive events. It works closely with the TOCU to deploy Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Traffic Wardens to reduce congestion at 20 key congestion pinch points in London and other areas identified as problems during the day. Six teams of these staff are now regularly being deployed to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.
Road safety has remained a priority for TfL and there has been a range of road engineering schemes and targeted advertising campaigns over the past year. These have included a focus on the safety of children and young people. The number of people killed or seriously injured on London's roads has been reduced by more than 25 per cent since the late 1990s as our Road Safety Plan has been put into action.
TfL also launched a ground-breaking, award winning marketing initiative aimed at saving lives on the capital's streets. To highlight the growing issue of powered two wheeler (P2W) riders killed or seriously injured on London's roads, TfL has been running the 'See and be Seen' advert on TV and in cinemas in London during 2003 and 2004. The advert demonstrates the dangers faced by drivers and motorcycle riders connected with right turns. The adverts have received critical acclaim, with Campaign magazine voting the TfL advert the third best cinema commercial of all time. The campaign also went on to win prestigious Gold and Special Campaign Account Planning Group creative planning awards.
Progress for 2003/04 has been broadly on course to meet the Mayor's targets for reductions in road casualties. Last year, overall casualties were down seven per cent and fatalities down three per cent on the previous year (Dec 2002/03). And while national casualties involving P2W's have continued to rise, the number of P2W riders and passengers killed or seriously injured in London fell by six per cent in 2003 compared to 2002. This is in spite of a three per cent rise in the numbers of motorcycles registered in London and more P2W trips.
With the success of the central London congestion charging scheme in meeting its key objective of reducing traffic congestion, we have undertaken consultation on a revision to the Mayor's Transport Strategy to allow a western extension of the central London congestion charging scheme. Leaflets with a questionnaire on the revision were sent to 3.3 million households, 240,000 businesses and 1,400 stakeholder organisations within the Greater London area.
The consultation was also advertised on local radio, in the press and on the internet. Although the final decision as to whether to proceed with a scheme is unlikely before summer 2005 at the earliest, this consultation has shown Londoners that we are keen to engage with them and hear their views. We carried out a similar large-scale consultation on the Thames Gateway Bridge proposals, prior to submitting an application for planning approval.
The first phase of the World Squares for All project at Trafalgar Square opened in July 2003. The £25 million scheme created a major new pedestrian area between the Square and the National Gallery, which are now linked by a new central staircase. Additional pedestrian improvements across London include new and upgraded pedestrian crossings, and the installation of dropped kerbs and tactile paving making travelling around easier for those who are visually impaired.
The Walking Plan for London was launched in February 2004. The plan aims to encourage more people to walk for short journeys and also to make trips over longer distances by a combination of walking and public transport, thereby promoting walking as a viable, healthy and environmentally friendly activity.
TfL launched the London Cycle Action Plan in February 2004 and has also invested in a range of measures to improve conditions for cyclists on the street, together with more cycle parking at stations and in schools and free training. This has resulted in a 23 per cent increase in the levels of cycling across London between May/June 2003 and May/June 2004.
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