Alex Williams opened the first virtual freight policy advisory group, ‘news today on the TfL budget, 80% of our income came from fares and movement, our finances have been difficult, we published an emergency budget that takes us to Sept. Alex handed over to the TfL team to deliver a freight briefing from StreetSpace to FORS Steer Group, road user charging and dates.
Clare Cheriyan, COVID19 and goods vehicles in London, ‘In April lockdown LGV and HGV numbers fell to around 60% of pre-lockdown levels, today we are at about 90% of pre-lockdown traffic levels.’ Clare showcased a variety of graphs looking at home delivery and e-retail, all deliveries to door showed strongly above pre-COVID. Servicing office space remained low as did construction at this time. Light v heavy, vehicle kilometres, light is sitting at 83% of the ratio of the two groups.
Christina Calderato spoke road user charging. ‘Looking at the suspension of congestion and ULEZ charges to support COVID. 18th May the schemes were restarted having been suspended for seven weeks. Temporary changes to congestion charge followed to prevent car based recovery and keep people moving, this included fleet discount removal, longer hours and seven days rising to fifteen pounds. Residents discount will close to new applicants from 1st Aug.’ Christina clarified the change to charges is temporary and will be kept under review. A future date, we are still looking as planned at 25th October 2021, expansion of the ULEZ to inner London.
Helen Fallon TfL, explained London streetscape plan was there to control car use in shift from public transport, safety, public health and economic recovery. Dr Andy Neather at TFL has been running operations of StreetSpace to the IOC and you will find this weeks latest updates below. ‘The message has not always been welcome, particularly loading bays, but well done TFL for getting so many regular updates out to the freight sector.’
Alina Tuerk announced Steer Group as a new independent auditor for FORS. Alina will head quality, Sam Weller at TFL will become the day to day manager of the G&S programme.
TfL Wed Freight call – This week Wed July 22nd
London, Upper Thames street closed for gas works until Saturday.
Janet Brown, Upper Thames Street closed West bound for emergency gas works until Saturday. Cadent Gas have advised that so far they have repaired 4 joints, however the gas readings are still high and further excavation and repairs are required, there is also a damaged chamber, they have a team attending site today to assess the damage and estimate a repair plan. This is a complex repair and Cadent Gas are working around the clock to ensure there is no unnecessary delay, they have reinstatement on standby for when the repairs are completed this will likely to go in to the weekend.
Bishopsgate Streetscape changes starts today (Wed July 22nd)
Cycle super highway CS7 Ballaham/Tooting are starts today.
Vauxhall Bridge to closed from Aug 2nd for critical works
Further to planned works on Vauxhall Bridge, we can now confirm that TfL is carrying out safety critical repair works on Vauxhall Bridge and it will be closed to general traffic in both directions from 20:00 Sunday 2 August until late November 2020. Access will be maintained for pedestrians, cyclists, and southbound buses and coaches. Buses and coaches heading northbound towards Victoria will be on diversion. All other vehicles will be on diversion.
Full closure for Buckingham Palace Road, night of Sept 3rd
Big changes for Hatton Cross – water main replacement 30 weeks
Exiting lockdown, vehicles are slowing down, inevitably placing more vehicles into the mix to get the same jobs done and choking the roads more while Streetspace works build. The operator request for the call was to extend 20 min times on loading bays to allow trucks supporting the supermarkets more time to unload. James Adcroft, Tesco assured trucks would not stay a moment longer than needed.
Janet Brown, Upper Thames Street closed West bound for emergency gas works until Saturday. Looking ahead, 27th July to 3st August dates for two schemes – Wickham Road A598 gas works, Purley Way junction of Mill Lane. ‘A single full night closure of Buckingham Palace road is set for 3rd September. Proposal to close Vauxhall Bridge for safety-critical works, likely to start end of July. Diversion over Lambeth bridge for 4 months. Big impact to Nine Elms, this may also impact on proposed works for Streetspace set to take place. Hammersmith also under works at this time. Job similar to what was done at Westminster.
TfL, Dr Andy Neather talked Streetscape for London - In line with our plans to create more space on the streets for people to walk or cycle while social distancing, there will be continuous updates to the layout of various roads. These changes include extending footways and bus and cycle lanes.
TfL, James Marshal explained Bishopsgate last week, it slipped but starts July 22nd for a cycle corridor. Restricting traffic to re-allocate wide footways and cycle space. Access has been key from the start of this project. The new bus gates are not physical, they are signs, out of the seven till seven hours you can pass normally. 7am to 7pm is bus-only. Loading will be permitted in the other side of the sevens am and pm.
Roads update
Farringdon corridor: Blackfriars to King's Cross Consideration of creation of bus/cycle/walk only corridor. August In design
Drivers using Blackfriars Bridge or Tower Bridge should expect queues while crossing the river. Travel outside of peak times and use alternative river crossings including Vauxhall, Westminster and Lambeth bridges where possible for an easier journey. This is for essential maintenance works being carried out by the City of London Corporation.
Euston Road (A501) Temporary cycle lanes on Euston Road between juncs with Hampstead Road and Midland Road/Judd Street, both directions with traffic.
Battersea Park Rd (Nine Elms) Measures to increase space for peds along Battersea Park Rd and outside Battersea Park station (17 July) Under construction
Bishopsgate traffic-free corridor - South end of Gracechurch St to junc of Bishopsgate/Middlesex St. 22 July Under construction
CS7 upgrade Tooting-Balham-Colliers Wood Upgrade existing route including protected cycle lanes and bus & cycle lanes - 23 July - Under construction
Cycleway 37 (Formerly CFR5) - Mile End Rd to Westferry (Phase 1) - Accelerate existing plans and use temporary materials for protection (20 July) - Under construction
Camden High Street Phase 2 - Footway widening on the Western side of Camden High Street addressing pinch points outside shops identified by Camden Cllrs - 23 July In design
Cycleway 9 East - Section 1 Goldhawk Road to Heathfield Terrace - Restart Cycleway 9 construction and accelerate scheme using temporary materials 3 August - In design
Tooley St and London Bridge (Cycleway 4) - Segregated cycle track to be extended from
Tower Bridge, across Tooley Street to northern side of London Bridge - 10 August - In design
Kensington High Street Complete gaps in RBKC's designs for Kensington High Street 50m west of the TLRN junction at Holland Road, along the Borough road section of KHS, the KHS/Addison Road junction and the westbound south side of the road upto St Mary Abbott's Gardens. 15 August In design
