London's Bus Network

Appendix 4 Transport Committee Report Impact Review London’s bus network Released July 2017 Overview This paper summarises the response from the Mayor and TfL to the Transport Committee’s August 2017 report on the design and planning of London’s bus network.1 The investigation found there had been a fall in bus usage, and that the network had been affected by increased traffic congestion. The committee found that capacity needed to be increased in outer London, and that new principles of network design could be applied to make services more effective for passengers. Meetings were held with TfL, transport experts, and representatives of boroughs and operators, with a large number of written submissions also received. The committee also commissioned a literature review to provide further evidence, including a series of international case studies.2 Media coverage The report received a significant amount of media coverage, including national press coverage. The report was featured in The Times and The Independent, as well as the Metro, City AM and trade publications. On television it was featured on the ITV London news and on London Live, both with an interview with the Deputy Chair. On the radio, the Deputy Chair was interviewed on the Nick Ferrari show on LBC, and the report was also discussed on BBC London radio, including Vanessa Feltz’s show. Much coverage focused on the committee’s suggestion that TfL may want to consider re-introducing articulated buses on trunk routes. Mayor’s Transport Strategy The draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy, released in June, discussed a number of the topics the committee raised during the investigation.3 The draft MTS proposed extending bus hour operating hours and new bus priority measures in order to combat the effect of congestion. The draft MTS discussed the need to distribute bus capacity to outer London, although the were no specific proposals to deliver this. There is however a proposal to pilot bus transit networks at Opportunity Areas in outer London. 1 https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/london-assembly/london-assembly-publications/londons-bus-network 2 https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/bus_planning_literature_review_jrc_ltd.pdf 3 https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/our-vision-transport/draft-mayors-transport-strategy-2017 Transport Committee Responses to conclusions Details of responses to specific recommendations are set out in the table below. Conclusion Progress Summary 1 The Mayor and TfL need to The Mayor and TfL are pursuing a series of tackle the rise is traffic congestion-reduction measures, although they congestion in London to halt have not fully accepted the committee’s previous the decline in bus passengers, recommendations. TfL is also introducing new bus by implementing previous priority measures. committee recommendations. Bus priority measures are welcome, but are only part of the solution. 2 Redistribute bus capacity TfL’s response indicates that there will be some from inner to outer London. rebalancing of capacity from central London to There should be more the suburbs. TfL is reviewing capacity against frequent services in outer demand for outer London routes. London and new orbital As discussed above, the draft MTS proposes new routes. New developments bus transit networks in outer London to support also need to be served by bus new developments. routes. 3 TfL should move toward a Although TfL’s response does not set out specific feeder/trunk model of changes being introduced in detail, it signals network design, with shorter, support for the principle of the Committee’s local bus routes connecting proposal. people to faster, high- TfL has reviewed frequencies of buses on all capacity services on major major corridors into central London and is looking corridors. TfL should also to use new bus priority measures to introduce a consider articulated buses on more strategic central London bus network. TfL is trunk routes. also considering options for new express routes. Regarding articulated buses, TfL’s response notes the benefits of type of vehicle for passengers, and notes that vehicle options are being kept under review. 4 Reform the bus tendering TfL is not planning to change the tendering process. There should be process. multi-route tenders for major corridors. 5 Improve the bus passenger TfL has prioritised funding for an upgrade of the experience with better on- iBus system, which will help improve passenger board information, more bus information. stop countdowns, WiFi The draft MTS proposes improving interchanges. provision on board, and TfL accepts that interchange has become harder improving interchange in some places because of public realm facilities between stops. improvements, but notes that the new Healthy Streets approach ensures passengers’ needs will be considered. There are no current plans to introduce new bus Transport Committee countdown signs, but these can be funded in the future through section 106 agreements. TfL will not be providing WiFi on board buses, although would consider it if funded by a sponsor. .

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