EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM TRANSPORT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE February 2020 EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM About the Transport Committee About the Transport TRANSPORT COMMITTEE Navin Shah AM Florence Eshalomi (Chair) MP AM Labour Labour Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM (Deputy Chair) Liberal Democrat Gareth Bacon MP AM Conservative The Transport Committee holds the Mayor and Transport for London to account for their work delivering the capital’s transport network. The committee examines all aspects of the transport network and presses for improvements on behalf of Londoners. CONTACT Daniel Tattersall, Policy Advisor [email protected] Tel: 020 8039 1328 Follow us @LondonAssembly #AssemblyTransport facebook.com/london.assembly EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM Introduction Introduction INTRODUCTION London is constantly evolving, and the way that people move around the city is evolving as well. The city’s population is growing, and people’s work, leisure and retail patterns are changing. Enabling active travel and public transport use is key if essential Mayoral ambitions to reduce emissions and improve health are to be met. Yet we already know that public transport isn’t always providing the best service for Londoners. In a public survey, the London Assembly’s Transport Committee found that over half of people think public transport in London is too crowded, four in ten people find it too hot or humid, and nearly a quarter think it is too expensive.1 Furthermore, as work patterns have become more irregular, with increased numbers of people working from home and working outside of the usual nine-to-five hours, many passengers are finding that season ticket options no longer reflect their needs and don’t provide savings for frequent travel.2 The Transport Committee wanted to find out what would improve people’s experiences of moving around the capital, how people’s movement patterns around the city will change in the future and what should be prioritised in the city’s transport infrastructure to respond to this, and understand how these changes could be delivered. Through two hearings and a call for evidence we engaged with individual Londoners and a broad range of stakeholders including transport consumer groups, taxi companies and drivers’ unions, charities, delivery companies, infrastructure providers, and London borough councils. The five key findings presented in this piece are drawn out of this public engagement and represent the issues that we heard about repeatedly from different perspectives and often with a variety of solutions proposed. EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM Electric Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure & Charging Electric Vehicles KEY FINDING More certainty over electric vehicle charging infrastructure is required to aid the switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles, but at the same time every effort should be made to provide viable transport alternatives in order to reduce the total number of vehicles on London’s roads. Electric vehicles have a which is not renewable.4,5 which 323 were rapid role to play in the future Electric vehicles also take charging points.8,9 This is of London’s transport, up the same amount of within the boundaries of and the number of space as other vehicles the number of chargers electric vehicles on and therefore do nothing required by London, London’s roads continues to ease congestion.6 as projected by the to rise. However, The Mayor’s Transport Mayor’s London Electric concerns over electric Strategy recognises Vehicle Infrastructure vehicles in the responses that a purely car-based Delivery Plan. However, to our call for evidence approach to transport, the range of expected echoed those expressed even if electric, will current demand is very previously by the not address London’s broad (“between 230 to London Assembly’s current and future 700 rapid chargers and Environment Committee.3 transport constraints. 3,400 to 8,000 residential slow to fast chargers”). Firstly, although they are Secondly, there is Projected demand for a preferable alternative to concern that electric 2025 is similarly broad petrol or diesel vehicles, vehicle charging (between 1,400 to electric vehicles still have infrastructure is not 4,100 rapid and 20,000 negative impacts on keeping pace with the to 48,000 residential health. They still present rise in electric vehicle slow to fast chargers), the same physical danger numbers for both and the plan itself notes to road users as other personal and commercial that a more accurate cars. Although they have use, and a lack of understanding of how no exhaust emissions, certainty over future many more chargers are there continues to be infrastructure provision required needs to be an impact on air quality could hinder the switch gained.10 If electric vehicle through the emission of from petrol and diesel to use is to be seamless particulate matter from electric vehicles.7 As of for owners, attention road, tyre and brake wear November 2019, there also needs to be paid and from the energy that were 4,360 charging to the harmonisation of they consume, much of points in London, of the numerous different EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM Electric Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure & Charging Electric Vehicles charging networks in provision, these types of significant potential to London, which currently companies require more provide electric vehicle require different apps, clarity over how booking infrastructure, support subscriptions to separate mechanisms would work, from Government will membership schemes so that complex delivery also be required.16 and can incur different patterns, for example, can costs.11 It is also essential be configured for pedestrians that this around guaranteed growth in charging points recharging points.13,14 does not negatively impact pavement The Mayor’s London space or safety, and Electric Vehicle the placement of the Infrastructure Delivery required chargers will Plan recognises that need to be Mayoral powers to carefully planned.12 mandate infrastructure development in this The uncertainty over area are limited. The charger provision is plan states that charger being felt particularly points would largely keenly by companies – be delivered by the such as taxi and delivery private sector.15 TfL companies – that would noted in its response like to make the switch to to the Committee’s call electric fleets. In addition for evidence that for to certainty over future London to deliver on its RECOMMENDATION The Mayor and TfL should continue to lobby Government for more clarity over Government support for electric vehicle infrastructure in London, work to support harmonisation of charging networks in London, and demonstrate to the Transport Committee by 5 March 2020 how this will fit alongside an overall plan to reduce the number of vehicles on London’s roads. EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM A Devolved Suburban Rail Service Suburban A Devolved KEY FINDING A metro-style devolved suburban rail service continues to be a high priority for Londoners. The Transport Committee trains, better run services, current complicated has previously safer and more accessible franchising model,26 it is highlighted the numerous stations, mayoral control imperative that the Mayor issues experienced by of fares and better and TfL continue to passengers on London’s integration with the lobby the Department for franchised train network. rest of the London Transport for devolution Overcrowding, a lack transport system.20 of suburban services of reliability, expensive from Southeastern, South fares, and infrequent and Throughout our Western Railway, Great irregular services have investigation we heard Northern and Southern all led to a decline in how important this franchises. The Williams passenger satisfaction.17 issue continues to be Rail Review – a ‘root and to Londoners. A wide branch’ review of Britain’s The London Assembly, range of respondents, railways established the Mayor and TfL including a rail passenger to assess whether the have long agreed advocacy group,21 a rail system is delivering that the devolution of thinktank,22 a London for passengers’ and these suburban rail borough council23 and taxpayers’ interests27 – franchises to TfL could rail infrastructure and has considered issues be the solution.18,19 As service providers24,25 all of franchising and the Committee has told us that they expect a devolution. The review previously highlighted, devolved suburban metro was due to be published rail devolution to create system to be a part of in Autumn 2019, and the a metro-style service London’s future transport Mayor and TfL should has the potential to system. Given that the lobby the Government to bring significant benefits Conservative Government publish this urgently. to Londoners through committed in its 2019 bigger and more regular manifesto to end the RECOMMENDATION The Mayor and TfL should continue to lobby the Department for Transport for devolution of suburban services from Southeastern, South Western Railway, Great Northern and Southern franchises, to lobby for the results of the Williams Rail Review to be published, and provide an update to the London Assembly Transport Committee by 5 March 2020 on recent progress in this area. EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020, 6:00AM E-Scooters & Micro-Mobility E-Scooters KEY FINDING Careful consideration will need to be given