Mayor slammed as capital faces huge rise in congestion

22 October 2009

The mayor of London was accused this week of failing to address a 14% projected increase in congestion in the capital, while his transport commissioner admitted bus use would decline on the back of fare hikes.

Transport for London commissioner, Peter Hendy, estimated demand would fall by 1-3% between now and 2017/18, as fares rose and expansion of the bus network was curtailed. TfL’s updated business plan, published on Wednesday, revealed that bus kilometres would fall by more than 7m to 478m over the next nine years, as bus subsidy was slashed to £452m – a 37% reduction compared with previous projections.

TfL had previously stated that a 20% increase in bus services was needed by 2016, in order to relieve congestion.

Mayor Boris Johnson, also responding to questions on his transport strategy (Surveyor, 16 October 2009), confirmed he would not introduce road-user charging ‘as long as I’m mayor’ – potentially until 2017. He told the London Assembly transport committee he had ‘no philosophical opposition’ to road charging, but there was ‘no money in the budget to put it in’.

When asked how he would address the predicted congestion increase of 14% by 2031, Mr Johnson replied: ‘I think the measures in the MTS (mayor’s transport strategy) will make a substantial difference.’

He said his top three modal shift measures were Crossrail and the Tube upgrades, ‘preserving and enhancing the bus fleet’, and encouraging more cycling and walking. Increased home working and the recently-approved London permit scheme would also contribute to his ‘vision’ of reducing congestion, he added.

But Joanne McCartney AM said his policies were based on ‘hope’ rather than ‘clear evidence’. Jenny Jones AM accused him of watering down three commitments to tackling climate change. ‘The mayor had committed to 1,000 electric vehicles in the GLA fleet, but there is no mention of this in the transport strategy. He had wanted 500 traffic signals fitted with LED lights, but this is now down to 300. He wanted 10 hydrogen buses, but only five are now guaranteed.’

Mr Johnson said the difference between his transport strategy and that of the previous mayor, Ken Livingstone, was the increased emphasis on outer London and town centres. But there would be no extra ‘smarter travel’ money enjoyed by Sutton and Richmond LBCs, he said. ‘If we can educate outer boroughs about the benefits of cycling, it will be a massive success. I hope we can persuade boroughs to use LIPs money – which we have increased – for cycling.’

TfL’s business plan confirms efficiency savings of more than £5m will be made by 2018. ‘It is absolutely essential we take steps now to get the finances in order,’ Mr Johnson said.

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