Paper 3 STREET MANAGEMENT OPERATIONAL ISSUES CONTENTS 1 Issues and initiatives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 A406 NCR Bounds Green to Green Lane 1.3 Coulsdon Town Centre Improvement Scheme 1.4 A40 Western Avenue and A406 Hanger Lane Bridges Replacement 1.5 World Squares for All 1.6 Thames Gateway River Crossings 1.7 Road Safety Strategic Review 1.8 20 mph Zones 1.9 London Traffic Information System 1.10 London Traffic Control Centre 1.11 Vauxhall Cross Transport Interchange 1.12 Tower Bridge Closure 1.13 London Bus Initiative 1.14 Congestion Charging Update 1.15 Review of Provision for Walking, Cycling and Area Based Schemes 2 CURRENT PERFORMANCE ISSUES 1.2 Best Value Performance Indicators 1.3 Demand 1.4 Service Delivery 1.5 Safety 1.6 Reliability 1.7 Enforcement 1.8 Woolwich Ferry ISSUES AND INITIATIVES Introduction Because this meeting of the Transport Operations Scrutiny Committee (TOSC has been rescheduled, there is a relatively short period between this and the previous TOSC meeting. As a result there have been no significant developments upon which to report. However, papers on the London Bus Initiative, a Congestion Charging update and a review of provision for walking, cycling and area based schemes have been presented to the Street Management Advisory Panel (SMAP) and summaries of these papers have been included in this report. A406 North Circular Road, Bounds Green to Green Lanes A report on the economic assessments carried out for the previous schemes on the A406 North Circular Road (promoted by the Highways Agency), their reassessment against the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and the current status of the revised schemes is elsewhere on the agenda. Coulsdon Town Centre Improvement Scheme The Coulsdon scheme is being developed by TfL Street Management in three stages: • Stage 1 – the new road to take through traffic out of the town centre • Stage 2 – improvements to Coulsdon town centre and local roads • Stage 3 – improvements at Coulsdon South and at Smitham stations Overwhelming public support for the proposals developed by TfL was confirmed at a recent public exhibition and there is local pressure to see the scheme built as soon as possible. Detailed design is progressing on Stage 1 with particular attention being focused on the appearance of the main features of the scheme such as structures (Marlpit Lane bridge and Smitham station bridge), and landscaping throughout the length of the new road from the rural southern half to the urban northern half. Contract documents are being prepared to go out to tender in July 2002 with award of contract for the main works in December 2002. An advance works contract will be started in Summer 2002 to take possession of all the land required for the scheme, and for demolition and site clearance in preparation for the start of works on the main contract. Design of Stage 2 is progressing in partnership with Croydon Council. Analysis of the feedback from the public exhibition held in October has been useful in deciding how the town centre should be developed and detailed proposals will be presented at a public consultation later in 2002. Proposals for Stage 3 are being developed to integrate the railway stations with the bus and road networks. This includes discussion with other stakeholders including Railtrack, GoVia (the train operating company), the Strategic Rail Authority and Croydon Council. A40 Western Avenue and A406 Hanger Lane Bridges Replacement The A40 and A406 road over railway bridges are in poor structural condition and do not have sufficient strength to meet current loading standards. Assessment reports have recommended that all four bridges be replaced as soon as possible. The preferred schemes have been identified following the reassessment against the objectives of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and have been discussed with Paul Moore and Lynn Sloman. The proposals include staged replacement of the Wales Farm Road Bridge and Perryn Road Bridge on the A40 Western Avenue and Waldegrave Road Bridge and South Bridge on the A406 Hanger Lane. The proposals also include provision of improved facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and people with a disability and enhancement of the natural and built environment. TfL Street Management has now developed the preferred schemes in partnership with the London Borough of Ealing, Crossrail, Strategic Rail Authority, Railtrack and London Underground. A public consultation will be held before the proposals are finalised. Subject to confirmation of funding a start on site for the main works is forecast for mid 2003. World Squares for All The partial pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square is the first phase of World Squares for All. Detailed design was substantially completed in mid- September 2001. The main construction contract was awarded to Fitzpatrick on 19 October 2001. Work on site commenced on 12 November 2001 and is programmed for completion by May 2003. Planning conditions were placed on the Central Staircase permission which require the inclusion of lifts and toilets under the North Terrace. The provision of these facilities are still being considered. A profile of the sources of funding and necessity of expenditure on the Trafalgar Square scheme in 2002/03 is elsewhere on the agenda Thames Gateway River Crossings The post of Project Manager of the River Crossings has been appointed within the Finance and Planning Department. This is a full time position for a period of 5 to 6 months and work has already begun on the detailed work programme. Road Safety Strategic Review The Road Safety Strategic Review will develop a process for developing and implementing road safety measures that : • are based on evidence, either in London, or in comparable cities where recent innovations may be relevant to London • deploy resources where they are shown to be most effective • are capable of being monitored as we go, i.e. a process where initiatives continue only if success - at least at some level - can be demonstrated • meet the Mayor’s targets for casualty reduction • represent Best Value, and in particular Value for Money • support the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. The review is required to feed into the budget making process for 2002/3 and beyond, and therefore all or a significant part of it has to be finished by the end of February 2002. With a range of issues a two stage process is proposed, with the first stage completed by the end of February and the second addressing any outstanding longer term issues. The review is to be led and co-ordinated by Street Management with input from a range of staff in Finance and Planning including Borough Partnerships. 20 mph Zones Of the five sites selected for early implementation, one, A10 Bishopsgate; Commercial Street to Cornhill; will be in place by the end of the financial year. The remaining four are at various stages of design. Once complete these will be implemented subject to the results of public consultation. Street Management Area Teams are currently investigating the 45 sites that were included in the original shortlist of 50, with a view to incorporating some of them into the financial programme from 2003/04 onwards should the initial five prove successful as expected. These schemes will be prioritised in accordance with the levels of pedestrian activity, road traffic casualty rates and proximity of shopping areas. London Traffic Information System The London Traffic Information System is a facility for monitoring traffic conditions and incidents within the M25 London Area. Collators at New Scotland Yard and London Buses Centrecomm (control centre) input both immediate and scheduled events affecting the road network. This 'real-time' information is then made available through a Web-browser interface, both internally on the Intranet and externally on the Internet to authorised users, mostly media organisations such as the BBC. London Traffic Control Centre (LTCC) Preparations for the hand over of the Metropolitan PoliceTraffic Control Centre to TfL Street Management continue. Currently the Metropolitan Police are reporting to their Board that the first stage will involve existing staff remaining as police staff and the new recruitments to be employed by Street Management. This is to allow for a seamless transition between the two bodies during the transfer of responsibilities. The new centre will be operational by August 2002. Vauxhall Cross Transport Interchange Preliminary road works on phase 1 of the project, which include changes to junctions around the one way system and the installation of new traffic signals, began on 14 January. Street Management is working with the Cross River Partnership, the London Development Agency, Lambeth Borough Council and others to deliver a coherent scheme to manage traffic flow in the area better and improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and those using public transport. The completed scheme will include a new bus station on Bondway close to the railway station; better links between the railway station, the underground and buses; comprehensive and safe pedestrian crossings; dedicated cycle facilities; and improved environment and lighting. Tower Bridge Closure Tower Bridge was closed to vehicles and pedestrians for 6 weeks for its first major maintenance operation since 1974. Over 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day and vibration in the structure from larger vehicles and an increased volume of vehicles has led to problems with the hydraulics that lift the bridge. These problems have led to a misalignment when the bridge is lowered, and if left would result in damage to the pivots and bearings. If this were to happen the bridge would need to be dismantled for repair. The bridge has now reopened and the works are thought to have given it a life expectancy of at least 20 years at the current weight limit of 17 tonnes.