East-West Cycle Superhighway Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue Response to Consultation June 2015 Contents Executive summary .................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction............................................................................................................. 4 2. The consultation ..................................................................................................... 9 3. Responses to consultation ................................................................................... 13 4. Conclusion and next steps ................................................................................... 21 Appendix A – TfL response to issues commonly raised ........................................... 22 Appendix B – Summary of stakeholder responses ................................................... 33 Appendix C - Email to people on the TfL database .................................................. 39 Appendix D - Stakeholder email ............................................................................... 40 Appendix E - List of stakeholders emailed ............................................................... 41 Appendix F - Map of distribution area....................................................................... 63 East-West Cycle Superhighway Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue Consultation Response to Consultation 2 Executive summary Between 9 February and 29 March 2015, Transport for London (TfL) consulted on revised proposals for the East-West Cycle Superhighway at Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue. We received 663 responses to the consultation, of which 74% supported or partially supported our proposals. Comments from respondents included concern about traffic congestion as a result of the scheme, general support for the scheme, suggested modifications to the proposals for cycling and pedestrian facilities, the impacts on coach services and concerns about banning the right turn from Northumberland Avenue. After considering all responses, we intend to proceed with the scheme as set out in the consultation documents. Commuter coach services will be able to use the existing tour bus stop at Westminster Pier. We also intend to allow commuter coaches to serve the Banqueting House stop on Whitehall as an alternative, subject to discussions with Westminster City Council. This would provide another nearby option for services affected by the removal of bus and coach stop Y on Victoria Embankment. Subject to the formal Traffic Order process and receiving relevant approvals, we plan to start construction work around the Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue junction in July 2015, with completion for the East-West route planned for spring 2016. Works will be phased to minimise impact on the traffic network and will cater for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users as much as possible. We will keep customers and road users informed of our plans and progress, including writing to local residents and businesses before undertaking work in their area. We will also provide road traffic information to help people better plan their journeys and make informed choices about how, where and when they travel. 3 East-West Cycle Superhighway Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue Consultation Response to Consultation 1. Introduction We originally consulted on proposals for the East-West Cycle Superhighway between 3 September 2014 and 9 November 2014. Following the September 2014 consultation, the TfL Board agreed that some changes to the proposals in the original consultation would be subject to further consultation. Between 9 February and 29 March 2015, we consulted on further proposals for certain sections of the East-West Cycle Superhighway. This included revised proposals to aid traffic flow on Victoria Embankment, including the removal or relocation of a bus and coach stop, banning the right turn from Northumberland Avenue to Victoria Embankment (except cyclists from the cycle track) and the removal of a pedestrian crossing. This document explains the processes, responses and outcomes of the consultation, and sets out our response to issues commonly raised. 1.1 Purpose of the scheme Feedback from the September 2014 consultation included concerns about the traffic impact of the scheme. In response to this and following further investigations, we proposed changes to the designs for the Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue junction that would improve its operation and reduce the impact on general traffic. 1.2 Description of the proposals The scheme area for the Northumberland Avenue / Victoria Embankment consultation is part of Section 9 of the original East-West Cycle Superhighway consultation. The scheme area includes the junction of Victoria Embankment and Northumberland Avenue and nearby sections of both roads. Removed bus and coach stop To allow southbound traffic to flow more freely on Victoria Embankment towards the busy Northumberland Avenue junction, southbound bus stop Y on Victoria Embankment near Northumberland Avenue will be removed Our latest analysis shows this will reduce the journey time impacts of the proposals for general traffic on the East-West Cycle Superhighway compared with the previous proposal Bus and coach stop Y is currently used by TfL bus route N550 to Trafalgar Square, Big Bus Tours, The Original Tour, coach routes 771 and 772 to East-West Cycle Superhighway Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue Consultation Response to Consultation 4 Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Linslade and any coaches which terminate at Victoria or Vauxhall Coach routes 771 and 772 and any coaches which terminate at Victoria or Vauxhall will be able to use other stops on Victoria Embankment between Bridge Street and Horse Guards Avenue and the Banqueting Hall stop on Whitehall, subject to discussions with Westminster City Council Banned right turn from Northumberland Avenue into Victoria Embankment (except cycles from the cycle track) Banning the right turn from Northumberland Avenue into Victoria Embankment for all vehicles except cyclists using the cycle track will help to keep traffic moving more freely by allowing southbound traffic on Victoria Embankment to pass through the junction at the same time as traffic turning left out of Northumberland Avenue Our latest analysis shows this will reduce the journey time impacts of the proposals for general traffic on the East-West Cycle Superhighway compared with the previous proposal Our latest traffic counts show a maximum of 101 vehicles per hour turning right from Northumberland Avenue into Victoria Embankment in the morning and evening peaks (excluding cycles), compared to a maximum of 603 vehicles per hour turning left from Victoria Embankment into Northumberland Avenue in the morning and evening peaks (excluding cycles) Removing the pedestrian crossing on Victoria Embankment north of Northumberland Avenue Removing the pedestrian crossing on Victoria Embankment north of Northumberland Avenue (under Hungerford Bridge) will help keep traffic flowing more freely through the eastern section of the junction Alternative pedestrian crossings are available either side of the junction - approximately 40 metres south of the junction and approximately 65 metres north (outside Embankment station). These will remain in place Our latest analysis shows this will reduce the journey time impacts of the proposals for general traffic compared with the previous proposal Proposed changes to parking and loading on Victoria Embankment The motorcycle parking on the western side of Victoria Embankment south of Northumberland Avenue will be relocated to the island between the cycle 5 East-West Cycle Superhighway Victoria Embankment / Northumberland Avenue Consultation Response to Consultation track and the carriageway. The new bay will be the same size as the existing bay (35 metres) The riverside loading bay south of Northumberland Avenue will be extended from 11 metres to 15 metres and inset into the segregating island. Operating hours will be reduced, with no loading between 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm A new 20 metre inset loading bay will be provided north of bus stop Y. This will also operate with no loading between 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm We are extending the time during which vehicles are allowed to stop and load in these loading bays from 20 minutes to 40 minutes Segregated two-way cycle track replaces traffic lanes on Victoria Embankment The cycle track will be at carriageway level on the eastern side of the road and will be between 3.2 and 4.3 metres wide The cycle track will be separated from other traffic by a kerbed island between 1.2 and 3 metres wide No coloured surfacing will be used This will replace two traffic lanes (one southbound and one northbound) on Victoria Embankment Cycle lane replaces one eastbound traffic lane at Northumberland Avenue junction The cycle lane will be advisory across the entrance to Embankment Place to allow vehicles to access this side road The mandatory cycle lane to the south of Embankment Place will be separated from other traffic by a kerbed island 1.2 metres wide at the junction with Victoria Embankment The lane will be between 1.5 and 2 metres wide No coloured surfacing will be used The footway on the south eastern corner will be reduced by 3.8 metres in order to retain the left-turning traffic lane into Northumberland Avenue. A minimum footway width of 4.4 metres will