Roads

Action to tackle London’s traffic problems is a top priority for London First

The annual cost of congestion in London is approximately equal to 1% of the capital’s GDP.  With recent predictions by Transport for London (TfL) showing that congestion is likely to grow by 35% by 2025, the health and wealth of London depends on addressing road transport problems.

Better roads management

London First is conducting a study - Roadworks Count - to examine ways to reduce congestion in the capital through the introduction of new practices in managing essential roadworks, including lane rental charging on the busiest roads.  Our project will address one of the principle causes for congestion:  the length of time roads are closed due to roadworks.

The project is steered by a group of London First’s business members, who have commissioned an assessment of the costs to London business of disruption due to roadworks from transport consultants Colin Buchanan & Partners, with technical advice coming from a High Level Technical Group (also London First members).

We have developed recommendations for new financial incentives which properly reflect the impacts of roadworks on road users and the costs to utilities. These include the proposal that lane rental charging should be introduced on London’s strategic roads at busy times, and that equivalent charges should also be applied to highway authorities.

London First is now consulting widely with stakeholders – including boroughs, utility companies and utility regulators - on a set of draft principles, which has already seen early take-up by TfL.  The final report is scheduled for July 2010.

Roadworks Count – draft principles for consultation (full)

Draft principles - the headlines:

1) Incentivise both highway authorities and utility companies through comparable charging regimes
2) A “carrot and stick” approach – provide incentives to improve operational efficiencies and penalties to discourage inefficient operations
3) Only “lane rent” where it really matters
4) Proportional charges
5) Minimise bureaucracy
6) Change regulations to recognise the economic impact of disruptive roadworks
7) Publish performance tables to incentivise highway authorities
8) Create a marginally income-positive scheme, using surplus for supportive measures
9) Incentivise long term maintenance at strategic locations through higher charges
10) Measure the external impact

For more information, please contact Cynthia Grant
 

Road user charging

London First proposed Congestion Charging as a means of tackling central London gridlock and as an alternative funding stream to deliver vital investment in the capital’s transport system.  We have since persuaded the Mayor to make the original scheme more user-friendly, including introducing next-day payment, extra paypoints and a 6pm finish.

A one-size-fits-all Congestion Charge scheme - undermined in its effectiveness by the Western Extension - is now a blunt instrument.  Traffic speeds are dropping again.  London First is advocating a number of smaller, more flexible road user charging schemes to tackle congestion hotspots across the whole of London.  

Getting London to work - Executive summary / Full report


Bridges to prosperity

New river crossings in East London are an essential part of a package of transport improvements that will help transform the Thames Gateway.  Linking regeneration areas north and south of the Thames will improve access to jobs, education and leisure opportunities, increasing the attractiveness of the area to new and existing residents.  For local businesses these crossings will open up new markets, suppliers and skills pools, and boost the local economy.

For more information contact Cynthia Grant