TfL's Head of Planning joins our 'Making of the Modern City' forum
Above: CGI of the new Barking Riverside station (Weston Williamson for Transport for London)
Future Cities Forum is delighted that Matthew Yates, Head of Planning Projects at Transport for London, will be speaking at our infrastructure and energy event in the City of London, this November.
Matthew leads the planning and development of large-scale transportation projects including new rail lines, rail extension, light rail development, airports and highway schemes. He has been closely involved in the creation of the new Barking Riverside station which is central to the development of a new Thameside district in east London.
In other news for TfL, the new Crossrail station at Bond Street is now open. The new station is set to further radically improve travel across London and the South East by providing a new link to one of the busiest shopping districts in Europe. Services will begin calling at the station ahead of an anticipated busy winter this year. With two new entrances, at Davies Street near Oxford Street and Hanover Square near Regent Street, the station will be a gateway to the West End just in time for Black Friday and the festive period.
The new station is step free from street to train with two lifts to street level, further enhancing accessibility across the TfL network. The station will be able to accommodate nearly 140,000 Elizabeth line passenger journeys daily. This will more than double the number of people currently using Bond Street station to visit the area - providing a welcome boost to the area and easing congestion at nearby stations.
Dee Corsi, Interim Chief Executive of New West End Company, said: "The Elizabeth Line is a welcome boost to the West End's economic recovery and is a key driver in returning us to our historic £10 billion annual turnover. With direct access from Heathrow and key destinations, we hope the opening of Bond Street station will act as further encouragement for Londoners and international visitors alike to come and spend time in the district."
TfL was forced to pause some of its investment in walking and cycling schemes due to successive short-term agreements.
Following negotiations, in August TfL reached agreement with Government on a funding settlement until 31 March 2024. It can now resume spending on vital projects, with £80m per year to be spent directly by TfL on walking and cycling schemes as part of its Healthy Streets Programme.
These schemes will continue to support a green recovery from the pandemic, and create opportunities for safe, active and sustainable travel on London's streets, supporting the Mayor's Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from the transport network. This includes the start of construction of safer junction schemes at Holloway Road/Drayton Park and Battersea Bridge (subject to consultation), and pedestrian and cycling improvements at Streatham High Road and Manor Circus.
TfL will also continue lowering speed limits across London to reduce road danger, with plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on a further 28km of roads in the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Haringey by March 2023.
As part of the next phase of the Healthy Streets programme, TfL will also complete cycleways currently under construction and begin the construction of up to 14 km of additional sections.