Expansion and improvement

In December I attended the inauguration of the new T3 tram system in Paris at an event attended by Mayors from across the world. What the event underlined was the central role that transport has in making a city a truly world city. It is only through investment in transport infrastructure that a city can ensure its global competitiveness, and can continue to prosper as its population grows. It also demonstrates that the world is becoming increasingly aware of the need for transport solutions that safeguard our environment. These ideas are central to London’s transport policy – and will continue to be developed and put into practice in 2007.

When I was first elected as Mayor, London’s transport infrastructure had been suffering from a sustained lack of investment, which threatened its future competitiveness. Since then we have put the expansion and improvement of the transport system at the heart of our work.

The results over the past six years have been impressive. We have completely overhauled the bus service – making it an effective and extensive network that gives people a real alternative to the car. Bus usage has now risen by 40% against a background of falling passenger numbers elsewhere in the UK, and on the tube, passengers have seen improvements in their daily journeys and are using the underground in record numbers. We have succeeded in changing the perception of public transport. London is the only major city in the world to witness a shift from private car use to public transport.

We are also progressing the delivery of major projects as part of the £10 billion investment programme. These will include huge improvements on the tube and docklands light railway ahead of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will also be working to increase London’s tram network, and ensure the progress of the vital Crossrail project.

This year will see Transport for London take control of important parts of the London overland rail network, to deliver an integrated metro-style service. This will bring huge benefits to people from some of the poorest boroughs in London.

On 19 February 2007 the congestion charging zone will be extended west to Kensington and Chelsea – one of the most congested parts of the UK, bringing the benefits of reduced congestion, harmful emissions, and road accidents, to this part of the city.

The Oyster smartcard – 10 million of which have now been issued – has been an immense success, making travel faster, easier and cheaper. This will continue to expand, with private train operators starting to come on board.

2007 will see London remain at the forefront of environment-friendly transport policing. This why I have asked TfL to look into amending the existing congestion-charge scheme so that it will discourage the use of cars producing high levels of carbon emissions. This goes hand in hand with plans to introduce a London-wide Low Emission Zone in 2008. This will see the most polluting diesel lorries, coaches and buses that fail to meet a minimum pollution standard face having to pay a charge if they drive within greater London. This is another important step towards improving the capital’s air quality, which is currently some of the worst in Europe.

We aim that London will be a leader in clean technologies. We are now proceeding with plans to add around ten hydrogen buses to the fleet, and the number of hybrid buses, which use a combination of diesel and electric power, will expand following my unveiling of the first bus of it’s kind last year – the first step towards a hybrid bus fleet.

The Tour de France comes to the city for the first time in July, arriving in London as cycling is increasing more than any other city in Europe with a 72% increase in the last five years. We want to use the excitement of the Grand Depart to help us persuade even more people to take to two wheels, not just as a sport but as an everyday way of getting around the city.

It is through the renewal and expansion of our transport infrastructure, and the delivery of a more environment-friendly network, that London’s position as one of the most vibrant and exciting world cities will be retained and strengthened.