Beyond bendy buses: challenges for London's next mayor
Author: Adam MarshallDate: 01/04/2008
Publication: Transport Times
Ever since the introduction of a directly-elected mayor in 2000, transport issues have remained at the top of London's political agenda. In contrast to Whitehall - where the transport brief is far less glamorous - every London politician knows that his or her career depends on addressing the transport concerns of commuters, residents and businesses.
The mayoralty provides London with a high-profile advocate whose key role is to sustain the capital's economic performance. Whomever is elected on May 1, the issues remain the same: dealing with the 'problems of success', including the capital's overcrowded transport network; sustaining London's economy in the face of global economic uncertainty; and developing long-term policies that underpin continued prosperity.
No mayor could achieve these goals - and develop a legacy - without delivering better transport in the capital. The incumbent, Ken Livingstone, has won major commitments for transport improvements, including Crossrail and Thameslink. But these projects, along with the problem-plagued £30bn Tube upgrade, must now be delivered.
The big transport issues have floated around in the background during the mayoral campaign, which has been focused on personalities and national politics - rather than the capital's transport needs.
The winning candidate will have to grapple with the gritty details. Given that London is likely to absorb a population equivalent to that of Leeds within the next two decades, the transport challenge is set to grow further. London's next mayor will need to put aside campaign rhetoric - whether on bendy buses or Chelsea tractors - and bring about visible transport upgrades over the next four years. Three strategic priorities stand out.
First, and foremost, the mayor should develop robust arrangements to deliver the capital's transport mega-projects - which are critical to safeguarding London's national and global economic role. In most cities, one big rail or road project would constitute a serious management challenge. But London's next mayor must oversee three major upgrades -Tube, Thameslink, and Overground - and demonstrate substantial progress on the brand-new Crossrail system. The newly-elected Mayor will need to spend both time and political capital to ensure that Transport for London - and its legions of contractors - are ready for this unprecedented public works challenge.
Second, London's next mayor needs to create a vision for better transport in Outer London. As anyone stuck in rush-hour gridlock on the A406 or A40 can attest, the increasing number of suburb-to-suburb journeys strains the road network and the capital's (radial) transport system.
Boris Johnson's proposals for an orbital bus service represent a small - but high-profile - acknowledgement of this issue. Over the long term, however, London needs a comprehensive strategy to support journeys that begin and end in Zones 2-6. Shifting commuters out of their cars will require a far larger effort to improve public transport in the suburbs - and a strong economic case for greater public and private investment.
Third, the next mayor, regardless of political hue, should commit to a root-and-branch review of the Congestion Charge. Ken Livingstone's moves to shift the charge from a purely economic tax (targeting congestion) to an environmental tax (targeting carbon emissions) have provoked fierce debate. But all the major candidates' C-charge policies principally address short-term political considerations, rather than the capital's strategic needs.
Following the election, attention needs to focus on the long-term future of the Congestion Charge. To be bold - and cement London's global leadership in this area - the next mayor needs to tailor the charge to the capital's strategic transport needs. This means re-stating the economic case for road charging, and making the links between economic and environmental goals clearer. It also means tackling the politically-difficult question around whether to extend road pricing outside central London - something that Brian Paddick has floated during the campaign.
It's clear that London's next mayor - be it Boris, Ken or Brian - faces an unprecedented transport challenge. The winner must resist the urge to introduce short-term, populist transport policies and come up with serious plans for infrastructure delivery, improved suburb-to-suburb linkages, and the future of road pricing. A strong transport system is a prerequisite for a strong London economy - and for the creation of the economic, environmental and social benefits that all the mayoral candidates wish to see for the capital.
A version of this article first appeared in Transport Times.
