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Understanding and Managing Congestion

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Understanding and Managing Congestion Understanding and Managing Congestion For Transport for London On behalf of Greater London Authority Final Version 1-0 November 2017 Understanding and Managing Congestion Final Version 1-0 November 2017 Produced by: For: Transport for London On behalf of: Greater London Authority Contact: Jim Bradley Integrated Transport Planning Ltd. 6 Hay’s Lane London Bridge London SE1 2HB UNITED KINGDOM 0203 300 1810 [email protected] www.itpworld.net Understanding and Managing Congestion Project Information Sheet Client TfL Project Code 2398 Project Name Understanding and Managing Congestion Project Director Jim Bradley Project Manager Robin Kaenzig Quality Manager Jim Bradley Additional Team Members Jon Harris, Juan Sanclemente, Matt Cottam, Ruby Stringer, Georgia Corr, David Hicks File Location F:\2300-2399\2398 TfL Understanding and Managing Congestion\Technical\Final Report Document Control Sheet Ver. File Name Description Prep. Rev. App. Date V1-0 F:\ Understanding and Final Report RK JB JB 14/11/2017 Managing Congestion Final Report 141117 v1-0 Notice This report has been prepared for TfL and GLA in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment. Integrated Transport Planning Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party. Understanding and Managing Congestion Acknowledgements An independent panel of experts was invited to provide advice and expertise to inform this study. The panel met four times over the course of the study’s development and comprised: • Dr Rachel Aldred; • Mr Terence Bendixson; • Dr Adrian Davis; and • Dr Lynn Sloman. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the panel members for their time and expertise. In addition, ITP undertook wider stakeholder engagement in the form of meetings, workshops and correspondence and we would like to thank all the stakeholders who generously shared their views and expertise with us. Details of the participants in this stakeholder engagement exercise are provided in Appendix A. i Understanding and Managing Congestion Table of Contents Summary................................................................................................................................... viii 1. Introduction...................................................................................................................... 1 Approach to transport governance and policy in London....................................................................... 1 What is road based traffic congestion and how do we measure it?..................................................... 2 2. London traffic and congestion trends........................................................................ 5 Contextual trends...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Traffic and travel trends.......................................................................................................................................... 5 Trends in motorised traffic............................................................................................................................... 5 Modal share............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Traffic composition............................................................................................................................................... 8 Trends in non-motorised traffic...................................................................................................................... 14 Vehicle based motorised congestion trends.................................................................................................. 15 Looking forwards: the evolution of vehicle technology........................................................................ 18 Comparison of congestion trends with other cities..................................................................................... 18 UK comparisons......................................................................................................................................................... 18 International comparisons..................................................................................................................................... 19 3. The causes of congestion.............................................................................................. 20 ‘Demand-side’ factors.............................................................................................................................................. 20 Population growth and demographics......................................................................................................... 20 Motorised traffic.................................................................................................................................................... 21 Non-motorised traffic......................................................................................................................................... 21 ‘Supply-side factors’................................................................................................................................................. 22 Impact of changing road capacity on congestion................................................................................... 22 Planned and unplanned incidents.................................................................................................................. 23 Unpicking the causes of congestion.................................................................................................................. 24 4. Policy considerations...................................................................................................... 26 Learning from past experience............................................................................................................................. 26 Concept of induced demand........................................................................................................................... 26 Efficiently utilising the available road space.............................................................................................. 27 Valuation of different trip types...................................................................................................................... 28 Achieving the transport strategy objectives................................................................................................... 28 5. Tackling congestion: intervention options................................................................ 29 Demand-side interventions................................................................................................................................... 30 Road user charging.............................................................................................................................................. 30 Workplace parking levy...................................................................................................................................... 33 Freight strategy...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Smarter choices / Mobility management.................................................................................................... 36 ii Understanding and Managing Congestion Understanding and regulation of the PHV sector................................................................................... 37 Supply side interventions....................................................................................................................................... 38 Network management........................................................................................................................................ 39 Roadwork co-ordination and management............................................................................................... 39 Parking policy and regulation.......................................................................................................................... 40 Prioritisation of bus.............................................................................................................................................. 41 Land use and Transit Oriented Development............................................................................................ 43 6. Conclusions and recommendations............................................................................ 45 Recommendations.................................................................................................................................................... 45 Efficient use of road space................................................................................................................................ 45 Road user charging.............................................................................................................................................. 46 Land use / Transit Oriented Development (TOD)..................................................................................... 47 PHV regulation......................................................................................................................................................
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