London Mayor unveils transport strategy

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London Mayor unveils transport strategy

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has set out wide-ranging plans to transform London’s transport network.

The capital’s population is expected to rise to 10.5 million by 2041 – creating five million additional journeys every day. The Mayor believes it is vital that action is taken to avoid growing congestion, overcrowding, pollution and ill health. Investment in new and improved services for passengers, an unprecedented focus on walking/cycling, and a pledge to make the entire transport system ‘zero emission’ are central to his first draft Transport Strategy.

Transport For London will work to make London’s entire road transport system zero emission by 2050. A phased approach will see the creation of central London and town centre zero emission zones from 2025, a zero emission zone in inner London by 2040 and a London-wide zone by 2050. TfL is aiming for all taxis and PHVs to be zero emission-capable by 2033 and buses by 2037.

However, the draft document states that it will require the Government to incentivise the uptake of zero emission vehicles and provide funding, to ensure there is sufficient and appropriate charging and refuelling infrastructure.

The Mayor has also signalled the possibility of a per-mile charge for city driving, based on the time of travel, congestion and pollution rating of the vehicle.

“The Mayor is particularly brave to raise the idea of road pricing,” RAC Roads Policy spokesman Nick Lyes said. “It was mooted some years ago on a national scale and quickly dropped as it was seen as a way to charge drivers on top of what they already pay in motoring-related taxation. But in the longer term, it may be a viable solution to replace the current London charging regime because of its ‘pay as you use’ philosophy – by its nature this is fairer than the flat rate fees drivers currently pay to enter the congestion charging zone, and future Ultra Low Emission Zone. It would require the fitting of ‘black-box’ technology into every vehicle, which may work for residents but might be more problematic for occasional visitors driving into London.”

The Mayor’s stated aim is to cut car journeys by three million each day, and to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and taking public transport to 80% of journeys by 2041.

The draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy is open to public consultation until 2 October and can be accessed at www.tfl.gov.uk/mayors-transport-strategy

Added: 18 July 2017

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