Lobby group London First has called on secretary of state for transport Grant Shapps and London’s newly re-elected mayor Sadiq Khan to work together in order to improve the capital’s transport system.
In a letter, which was published in full in the Evening Standard, the business leaders urged all sides to “come together” to devise long-term and sustainable transport solutions.
“London does not work without public transport. And the UK cannot work without London,” said the letter, signed by 37 of the capital’s executives.
The letter did acknowledge that a short-term funding deal for Transport for London (TfL) was needed but stressed that the operator requires a funding model which takes into account the future needs of the city.
It continues: “Trends in passenger behaviour and technology – from ride hailing and micromobility to the decline of five-day-a-week commuting – mean that the city’s needs are constantly evolving.”
Furthermore, the business leaders put attention on the environmental impact of London’s public transport options. The letter continued: “In London, transport is second only to energy in terms of the city’s contribution to climate change, accounting for a quarter of all carbon emissions.
“Driving this number down will require more, cleaner public transport. But it will also require active support for other green forms of transport and city-wide coordination of the significant infrastructure investments and operational adjustments necessary to enable new technologies.”
Both the mayor’s office and the Department for Transport (DfT) responded with assurances that they were ready to work together in future.
A spokesperson for Khan, said: “This pandemic has been devastating for TfL’s finances. Securing a long-term funding settlement for the capital’s transport network is not only vital for London’s businesses and our prosperity, but will be a key driver in the recovery of the UK economy.”
While the DfT said the government had kept London’s transport network running during the pandemic, providing £3bn in emergency funding. It added that any future funding deals would look to move TfL onto a more financially sustainable footing.
