The importance of transport for the future of London and the UK
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone set out on 28 November a 20-year transport programme aimed at ensuring London’s future economic prosperity. Transport for London’s (TfL) T2025 report highlights the importance of sustained investment and sets out ways that the impact of transport on the environment can be reduced.
London’s economy is expected to grow by 900,000 jobs (one third of these new jobs will be in central London including the City, Docklands and the West End) and its population by 800,000 people, in the next two decades. This translates into four million extra journeys a day.
London’s transport infrastructure will need to adapt to this challenge, alongside the parallel imperative of reducing carbon emissions to deal with climate change. The T2025 package includes a climate change action plan, and sets out the need for substantial ongoing investment in public transport, together with measures to increase cycling and walking.
This equates to a projected 9% shift to public transport, cycling and walking over a 20 year period, building on the 4% shift that has already taken place over the last six years. The essential projects for public transport will include completing the rebuilding of the Tube through the PPP, the building of Crossrail, and expanding the bus network by a further 40%.
-
Updated : December 19, 2006
