News
18 November 2009
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| A few less lights could be good for London |
A new report from the Greater London Authority supports the Mayor of London's traffic policies by concluding that traffic flow could be smoothed and London's economy could benefit from switching off or removing some traffic lights.
The study, by GLA Economics, explored the economic impact of some of London's traffic lights. It was limited to five junctions judged to represent two thirds of London's junctions with lights. But it concluded that, if safety tests permitted, in some areas traffic flow could be smoothed and financial benefits would result from taking lights out of service.
Initial discussions have taken place between Transport for London and boroughs about whether traffic signals can safely be removed from some borough roads to improve traffic flow and without affecting pedestrians. The GLA economics report adds weight to these discussions and to the Mayor's drive to review the phasing of every set of traffic lights in the capital to ensure they are as efficient as possible.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "Traffic lights play an important part in our work to keep traffic flowing in the capital. And since taking office my team and TfL have worked like trojans to ensure that London's lights are made as efficient as possible. But there is surely not a single Londoner who has waited at a red light at two in the morning on a deserted street and wondered why on earth they are being delayed.
"We need to explore all options to smooth the flow of traffic, which is why TfL is speaking to boroughs about whether - subject to rigorous research on the safety of pedestrians and other road users - there might be a case to remove them. The conclusion of the GLA Economics report that this could also bring financial benefits to London adds weight to those discussions."
The report into the economic impact of traffic signals was officially launched at a City Hall seminar today (18 November) to discuss traffic lights in the capital.