Image: TfL
TfL has announced that it will restart work on a number of active travel schemes, after reaching a long-term funding settlement with the Government.
TfL says it was forced to pause some of its investment in walking and cycling, as a consequence of successive short-term agreements.
However a new funding settlement until March 2024 was agreed in August. This means work can now resume on ‘vital’ projects, with £80m per year to be spent directly by TfL on walking and cycling schemes as part of its Healthy Streets Programme.
This includes the start of construction of safer junction schemes at Holloway Road/Drayton Park and Battersea Bridge (subject to consultation), and pedestrian and cycling improvements at Streatham High Road and Manor Circus.
TfL will also continue lowering speed limits across London to reduce road danger, with plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on a further 28km of roads in the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Haringey by March 2023.
As part of the next phase of the Healthy Streets programme, TfL will also complete cycleways currently under construction and begin the construction of up to 14km of additional sections, including on:
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- C9 East, from Brentford to Kensington Olympia
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- C23, from Lea Bridge to Dalston
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- C34, from North Acton to Shepherds Bush
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- C37, from Hackney to Westferry
- C50, from Finsbury Park to Camden Town
TfL will also continue the design of a further 16km of cycleways, including sections of:
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- C9 West, from Hounslow to Brentford
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- C4 Extension, from Greenwich to Charlton
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- Further sections of the C50, from Finsbury Park to Camden Town
- A new cycle route, from Wembley to Wood Lane
Funding also includes the next phase of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) programme, which aims to further develop standards to improve visibility for HGV drivers.
This includes consultation with the freight industry on a proposed safe systems kit, that non-compliant HGVs would need to retrofit to their vehicles in order to obtain a safety permit from TfL and operate in London.
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “In the last two years we’ve seen more Londoners than ever choosing to walk and cycle around the capital, but successive short-term funding agreements from Government forced TfL and boroughs to pause spending on some permanent walking and cycling schemes.
“With the funding now agreed, I’m delighted that we can now restart work on these vital schemes - as well as beginning the design work for the next generation of new projects.
“The mayor and I are determined to continue building a cleaner, safer and more prosperous London for everyone and encouraging more people to pick up greener and more sustainable transport options is a vital part of that.”
19 October 2022