Mayor calls road management summit and strengthens capital's code

Mayor's Office release 25 February 2010

Representatives of London's major utilities met the Mayor at City Hall today (25 February) to sign up to a stronger version of the Mayor's Code of Conduct for roadworks in the capital. The Mayor has also invited the major utility companies and London's boroughs to attend a road management summit on 12 March where they will discuss how they can make further progress in reducing the disruption caused by roadworks.

In April 2009 the Mayor agreed a voluntary Code of Conduct for Roadworks with the five largest utility companies working in London that has already resulted in better managed roadworks. A progress report released by Transport for London today found that the code has resulted in an increase in the proportion of utility work taking place outside peak hours on TfL roads. It reports that the amount of work taking place outside peak hours on TfL roads by companies signed up to the Mayor's Code of Conduct has doubled.Read more

London Councils believe concessionary fares consultation flawed

London Councils release 5 February 2010

London Councils has reacted angrily to the outcome of the government's consultation about concessionary fares funding.

The cross party organisation is unhappy with the Department of Transport's decision to ignore the views of the capital in deciding that the amount paid to London for the national bus concession should be cut.

It is also astonished that government officials, when analysing responses to the consultation, chose to ignore the views it received from London "in order to provide a more balanced perspective of the views expressed across the country."

Under a three year package announced by the government in 2008, London was set to receive around £58 million in 2010/2011 to help cover the cost of providing free off peak bus travel in the capital.Read more

London's drivers first in the country to benefit from roadworks permit scheme

Mayor's Office release 11 January 2010

The Mayor of London has succeeded in his bid to see the capital's roads become the first in the country to operate a scheme where utility companies and other organisations will have to apply for permission first before digging them up.

Today (11 January) Transport for London and 16 of the capital's boroughs officially launched a permit scheme that means any company digging holes without permission or breaking the conditions of their permit risks being fined. It is hoped the move will reduce the 300,000 holes dug in London's roads each year by utility companies, by encouraging companies to work together. The scheme was a manifesto pledge by Mayor Boris Johnson as part of his efforts to smooth traffic flow.

Permitting will enable TfL and the boroughs to plan and coordinate the timing of when roadworks take place, to give companies the opportunity to work on the same sections of road at the same time.Read more

Shaping London: consultation for three mayoral strategies

In October the Mayor issued a draft new London Plan to replace the one that has been in use since February 2008, plus draft strategies for Transport, Economic Development, Air Quality and Water. He published also a report on London's potential housing capacity and the land available to meet it.

Comments have to be made by 5pm on Tuesday 12th January 2010. The London Plan team,Transport for London and the London Development Agency will consider responses, so there is a chance to influence the content and policies in the strategies. Read more

New Routemaster is 'years away' admits Mayor

BBC London (online) 1 September 2009

London mayor Boris Johnson has admitted it will be years before the Routemaster bus is ready - but said he is "champing at the bit" to remove bendy-buses.

When it was suggested the newly-designed bus "seems a long way off", Mr Johnson told the BBC: "It is."

But he said: "We are slowly starting to get rid now of the bendy buses."

The mayor said he expected the first new Routemasters, aimed at being better for the environment, to be "purring" through London's streets by late 2011.Read more

Greenwich tunnel closure means 10-mile detour for many

London Cycling Campaign August 2009

Angry cyclists and pedestrians are accusing the local council of leaving them stranded while the Greenwich tunnel (pictured right) closes for maintenance later this year.

Local LCC group, Greenwich Cyclists, has criticised the poor consultative process, and the lack of alternatives being provided. They have suggested using commuter boat the Thames Clipper or allowing bikes on the DLR to minimise disruption.

The tunnel will close in the autumn, for an as yet unknown length of time, while work takes place to replace the lifts, repair leaks and improve the lighting.Read more

Jubilee Line closures 'to last until 2010'

from BBC London (online) 25 August 2009

Delays to work on a London Underground line which could postpone completion until 2010 have been called "unacceptable" by London's mayor.

Underground maintenance company Tube Lines and contractor Bechtel have been closing the Jubilee Line on weekends since February 2007 to carry out work.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: "Tube Lines must get its act together - I am hugely frustrated at their progress to date."Read more

Mayor gives green light to energy busting 'LED' traffic signals

Mayor's office release 17 August 2009

The Mayor of London has announced that Transport for London (TfL) is to install energy busting LEDs at 3,500 traffic lights at around 300 junctions in the Capital. This represents a £2.4 million investment for thousands of new energy saving lights in traffic signals.

LED technology can reduce electricity consumption and the associated CO2 emissions that cause climate change by a massive 60 per cent. These 300 new LED (Light Emitting Diodes) fitted junctions will save 600 tonnes of these emissions a year and around £200,000 in energy costs. The bulbs will replace the existing bulbs at 3,500 traffic signal heads, each of which contain at least three bulbs.

This introduction of LED traffic lights is the largest of its kind in the UK. TfL is seeking to stimulate the development of LED traffic signals and to encourage more manufacturers to join the market. It is expected that there will be a greater take up across the UK as a result of TfL's commitment to introducing the lights in large numbers. Read more

Tower Hamlets top borough league for workplace cycling

from London Cycling Campaign August 2009

Tower Hamlets Council staff are riding high in the list of workforces using bikes, after registering the highest number of miles cycled during this year's Workplace Cycle Challenge.

Of the 24 London councils taking part in the Challenge, where staff recorded the number of miles they cycled in June, Tower Hamlets clocked 23,227 miles, ahead of their nearest rivals at Islington Council who recorded 22,606 miles.

In third place was Camden, whose staff cycled a total 18,800 miles. Around the world by bicycleRead more

Victoria Tube station upgrade gains planning approval

TFL release 30 Julu 2009

Passengers using one of London Underground's (LU) busiest and most congested stations are set to benefit from a major £695m upgrade as part of TfL's Investment Programme.

The project has been approved by the Secretary of State for Transport following a three-month public inquiry, which ended in January this year.

Used by more than 80 million passengers each year, Victoria Underground station is at the heart of London's transport network.Read more