A new transport strategy setting out the capital’s needs over the next 25 years has been criticised by London Assembly members for being too vague.
Published today by Mayor Sadiq Khan, the draft document has been described by City Hall as “ambitious”.
Among the proposals in it are a target that at least 80 per cent of journeys are made by walking, cycling and public transport by 2041 and improved accessibility for disabled passengers.
The document also commits Transport for London to “forging ahead with Crossrail 2.”
The last of these is dependent on Government permission and funding and today’s document contains no specific proposals on how TfL or the Mayor hope to persuade ministers to give the final go-ahead.
Publishing his strategy, Mayor Khan said: “I’ve been clear that we need to be bold in how our city operates as London’s population grows, and this means not only investing record amounts in new infrastructure like extensions to the tube, rail and Crossrail 2, but working with boroughs and local communities to reduce our reliance on car use across London.
“With our unprecedented focus on walking, cycling and clean public transport, our ambitious Transport Strategy can act as a crucial driver for new homes and jobs, but also improve quality of life for everyone living in London.”
However London Assembly members say the Mayor has failed to provide sufficient detail of how his goals would be achieved.
Keith Prince AM, chair of the Assembly’s Transport Committee, said: “We have been crying out for some real detail in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and sadly, there’s nothing new in today’s revised document.
“The target for 80 per cent of journeys to be undertaken by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041 is all well and good – but we called for the overall target to be broken down by mode.
He added: “According to the Mayor’s projections, the mode share of walking and cycling will increase by somewhere between 11 per cent and 48 per cent.
“This isn’t a meaningful target.
“The Mayor received approximately 6,500 responses to the consultation on his draft strategy.
“Looking at this latest draft, it is difficult to find any substantive changes. We’re left wondering why the Mayor consulted in the first place.
