Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it will be spending more than £63m in 2023/24 across London’s boroughs to improve the quality and safety of streets for those using public transport, walking and cycling.
The Healthy Streets investment provides funding for local projects that support the mayor’s transport strategy and local priorities.
Will Norman, walking and cycling commissioner, said: “The funding will give boroughs the certainty to deliver improvements to public transport, support Vision Zero and make active travel safer and more appealing.
“The funding will also support more active travel in outer London and help Londoners prepare for expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Boroughs have an essential role to play as we continue to build a safer, greener London for everyone and the mayor and I will continue to work closely with them.”
This includes the improved provision of public transport and active travel infrastructure across the capital and projects to support the mayor’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from the transport network.
The funding will support the delivery of projects such as new cycle routes, school streets schemes, new or upgraded pedestrian crossings, bus priority schemes and 20mph (32km/h) speed limits on borough roads.
Over the next financial year, nearly £39m has been allocated to schemes in the outer London boroughs, and £24m has been assigned to the inner London boroughs.
Following engagement with the boroughs, bus priority schemes will be funded, with more than 90 of the funded bus priority schemes planned for the outer London boroughs.
Some of the junction and corridor improvement schemes to receive funding include: five Liveable Neighbourhood schemes in Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich and Waltham Forest;
more than 150 proposals for new or upgraded pedestrian crossings; and cycle training for more than 20,000 adults and 40,000 children, among others.
Philip Glanville, mayor of Hackney and executive member for climate change, transport and environment, London Councils, said: “London boroughs are championing active travel solutions for Londoners and are already making changes on the ground to increase healthier and greener travel options across the capital.
“It is essential that all of London’s diverse communities can benefit from the projects that each borough’s Local Implementation Plan programme will deliver. We are committed to a strong partnership with TfL to deliver on this ambition, recognising that 95% of London’s streets are managed by the boroughs and City of London. This funding is hugely welcome as a starting point, but we will continue to work with the government to address the funding backlog to improve London’s highways infrastructure, including cycle routes, footpaths, lighting, trees, gullies, bridges and tunnels.”
