Transport for London (TfL) is set to restart work on its paused schemes to make roads safer and more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists.
This is thanks to a recent funding agreement with the UK government, which is in place until March 2024.
These secure funds will enable TfL to invest 80 million GBP each year on walking and cycling schemes as part of its Healthy Streets Programme.
The Healthy Streets Programme aims to create opportunities for safe, active and sustainable travel, while supporting the Mayor’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from the transport network.
Penny Rees, TfL's Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said:Walking and cycling are absolutely essential to a more sustainable future for London and we're determined to make our roads safer and ensure people who walk and cycle in the capital are safe and have easy, convenient routes to use. Investment in high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure, as part of our Healthy Streets programme, will continue to be vital to a green, healthy and sustainable future for all Londoners.
The work will include the construction of safer junctions at Holloway Road/Drayton Park and Battersea Bridge, as well as pedestrian and cycling improvements at Streatham High Road and Manor Circus.
TfL will also continue to lower speed limits across London, with plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on a further 28 kilometres of roads in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Haringey by March 2023.
As part of the programme’s next phase, TfL will also complete cycleways currently under construction and will begin constructing up to 14 kilometres of new sections.
London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said:In the last two years we've seen more Londoners than ever choosing to walk and cycle around the capital, but successive short-term funding agreements from Government forced TfL and boroughs to pause spending on some permanent walking and cycling schemes. With the funding now agreed, I'm delighted that we can now restart work on these vital schemes - as well as beginning the design work for the next generation of new projects.
The Mayor and I are determined to continue building a cleaner, safer and more prosperous London for everyone and encouraging more people to pick up greener and more sustainable transport options is a vital part of that.
