Commissioner’s report 16 March 2021 1 Introduction 3 2 Safety and security 4 3 Restart and recovery 10 4 Improving transport and generating growth 16 5 Healthy Streets 26 6 Crossrail 36 7 Finance 37 Commissioner’s report 2 This paper will be considered in public 1 Introduction This report provides a review of major As part of this, I am delighted that we issues and developments since the Board have confirmed our five, equally meeting on 3 February 2021. weighted, priorities for the year ahead. These are: Like many others, I was pleased to see the Government publish its plans to gradually • Securing a long-term sustainable ease lockdown over the coming months, financial deal subject to a number of tests. As the • Completing the Northern Line stages unlock, we will still be here for Extension, finishing Crossrail and Londoners to help them see the people opening the Elizabeth line and places they have missed. The first big • Safely supporting and driving milestone will be the return of all school forward London’s post-pandemic children from 8 March and, as before, we recovery and winning back our will do everything to get them back into customers the classroom safely through our • Creating a people-centric vision dedicated school services. and a more diverse and inclusive organisation, informed by and for With restrictions remaining for some our colleagues time, our focus remains on protecting our • Improving London’s air quality and people and our customers and ensuring accelerating decarbonisation services run for those who need them. We are still in the midst of a global By working together as one team, we will pandemic, and I am deeply saddened that be able to achieve these and help to 87 of our colleagues have now tragically rebuild a brighter future for our passed away from COVID-19. They and organisation and our city. their families are in my thoughts every day as we continue to fight this pandemic Along with the rest of the country, I am and keep London moving through these delighted with the incredible speed at tough times. which the NHS are vaccinating the UK’s population against coronavirus. Our It is clear that the future of our dedicated staff have worked tirelessly organisation, our city and our world will throughout the pandemic, serving be markedly different to what it once customers and enabling our key workers was. The recent Independent Panel to access much-needed transport Review and Financial Sustainability Plan services. I would like to thank everyone provided us with options and across TfL once again for everything you considerations about how we may move have done and continue to do for London. forward and continue providing a world- class transport service for London. We are, and will continue to be, a cornerstone for London and the UK’s recovery from the pandemic and I am committed to doing everything I can to lead and support our organisation through the next chapter in the Capital’s history. Commissioner’s Report 3 2 Safety and security Deaths in service infection and deaths from COVID-19 Our sincere condolences remain with the among London’s bus workers, owing to families and loved ones of the 87 the tragic loss of a number of bus worker colleagues who have sadly passed away colleagues, predominantly drivers. The from COVID-19. Everyone at TfL pays findings of the first phase were published tribute to the vital role they played in our in July 2020 and the recommendations are fight against the pandemic. Our Employee either complete or under way. Assistance Programme is available to all employees and their dependents and The aim of phase two was to understand provides support, guidance and the pattern of infections in bus workers information on a range of topics, including to inform recommendations on any bereavement. As Commissioner, the additional occupational health measures safety of all our staff and customers that should be put in place. All London continues to be my top priority, and I am bus drivers were invited to complete a absolutely committed to doing everything survey that examined their non- in my power to keep you safe on our occupational and occupational risk factors network. for coronavirus and their response to the measures taken by bus operators to Latest advice on shielding reduce their risk. University College On 16 February 2021, the Government London also sought information from bus announced that GPs will start using a new operators on the demographics of their model to help identify people with drivers. multiple risk factors, such as age, medical conditions and body mass index, which The draft report is now in the process of combined make them at higher risk if they being finalised alongside the study’s catch COVID-19. Anyone in this new group recommendations and will be published will be asked to shield until at least 31 shortly. March. Face covering enforcement This new group will be entitled to the Our enforcement officers continue to same support as those classified as enforce the mandatory wearing of face clinically extremely vulnerable. We are coverings on all public transport modes, advising staff in this new group who are unless a passenger is exempt. This work is currently attending work to continue to being supported by our policing partners, do so until they receive a letter or email the British Transport Police and the telling them to shield, in line with Metropolitan Police (MPS) Roads and Government advice. We are committed to Transport Policing Command (RTPC). supporting anyone who needs to shield and continue with our protective Customer compliance remains generally measures to keep those who can stay at very high, particularly during peak travel work safe. times. Customer research shows that 91 per cent of customers say they are always Bus driver deaths from COVID-19 wearing a face covering while using our In May 2020, we commissioned the transport services, six per cent are University College London Institute of wearing it on some journeys, and four per Health Equity to study the pattern of Commissioner’s report 4 We have an extensive cleaning regime in place cent are not wearing a face covering at all. take into consideration). Of those 84 Of those not wearing a face covering cases, 65 defendants had their case while using public transport or just on proved in their absence due to not some journeys, more than half claim to responding to the court summons. This have an exemption or valid reason for not resulted in a fine of £660 each. complying. On 4 March 2021, 75 cases were listed in Up until 7 March 2021, our enforcement court, with 11 defendants pleading guilty officers have intervened with 142,473 to the offence of not wearing a face passengers who were not wearing a face covering, resulting in fines ranging from covering or not wearing it correctly. Of £0 (Conditional Discharge) to £300 these, 9,988 were refused travel and 2,394 (amount dependant on the individuals’ Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued. A circumstances, which the court needs to Fixed Penalty Notice starts at £200 for a take into consideration). Of those 75 first offence. A total of 974 of these were cases, 57 defendants had their case paid within 14 days, at a reduced level of proved in their absence due to not £100 for early payment and 52 were paid responding to the court summons. This within 28 days. Where these remain resulted in a fine of £660 each. unpaid, we will pursue offenders through the courts. To help support our messaging, we have ongoing radio advertising and posters On 1 March 2021, 84 cases were listed in across the network to encourage court, with 16 defendants pleading guilty Londoners to wear a face covering at all to the offence of not wearing a face times on public transport unless exempt. covering, resulting in fines ranging from We have also developed new £0 (Conditional Discharge) to £600 communications to target the stubborn (amount dependant on the individuals’ minority who are still not wearing a face circumstances, which the court needs to covering. This includes promoting video Commissioner’s report 5 content of our enforcement officers Opening windows was proven to stopping people not wearing face sufficiently increase ventilation in a range coverings and reiterating that if you do of scenarios. Following this advice, we not wear one you could be turned away have introduced additional customer from our services or fined up to £6,400. messaging to advise them to leave the The video runs on paid social media and windows open and added instruction predominantly targets 16 to 34-year-old stickers to all windows across the fleet. males, as research and enforcement team This is in addition to limits on passenger feedback tells us this group is least likely numbers and face covering measures, to comply. which are already in place and will also limit potential viral particle build up. In addition to this, we are using Instagram to target 12 to 18-year-old children ahead Additional research and testing is planned of schools restarting. We used trusted with UCL to further understand air quality peer-to-peer voices to help change on our vehicles. Engineering work is now behaviours and persuade young people also in progress to consider potential that wearing a mask on public transport is further risk mitigations and future vehicle the caring and vital thing to do. designs. Extensive cleaning regime Croydon tram overturning Our extensive anti-viral cleaning regime On 9 November 2016, seven people died continues across the transport network when a tram derailed and overturned on a and includes using hospital-grade cleaning curve as it approached Sandilands substances that kill viruses and bacteria junction in Croydon.