Publication from Caroline
Russell: Letter to Heidi Alexander on TfL coronavirus financial settlement
Date published:
15 May 2020
Dear
Heidi,
Questions
arising from measures announced in government support deal for TfL
I was
relieved to see that an agreement was reached with the Government last night to
safeguard Transport for London (TfL) services and functions for the next few
months. Although the full agreement has not been shared, the details already
released raise a few immediate queries that I’d much appreciate an answer to.
The
first point of concern is concessionary and discounted travel. The message that
older and disabled people may lose their free or discounted access to the
transport network at peak times has already spread widely. There is a wide
range of cards and methods by which free travel is accessed by different
groups. Please will you provide very clear communication of the way that
all categories of discounted and free travel will now work, including any
difference between bus and tube access and let me know when this will be
available.
Many
supermarkets are now offering special hours for older and disabled customers in the early
morning, and some people may be using public transport, especially
buses, to help carry groceries home or to reach the shops. Will you discuss
with supermarkets in London adjusting these special hours to reduce the demand
to travel in the morning peak for people making these shopping trips.
The
proposal is also to suspend free travel for under 18s with special arrangements
for young people eligible for free travel under the national scheme. I
appreciate education is not a City Hall responsibility, but we know many
children, particularly at secondary level, have lengthy trips to school that
may be easily made by bike, if the conditions are right. Will TfL prioritise
safe cycle access to schools across all of London, and urge boroughs to do the
same?
The
other major concern that has come up in correspondence from constituents is
about the congestion charge. I called for the reintroduction of the charge last
week, and am glad that an exemption for NHS and care workers is proposed.
However, there are other workers and volunteers who are supporting Londoners
through coronavirus such as The Samaritans, based in Soho, who tell me they
have qualified as key workers during the lockdown. Given their work, across 24
hours a day, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Londoners is it
possible to include this group of volunteers in the NHS and care worker
exemptions?
Private
hire drivers tell me they are concerned at the increase in the congestion
charge to £15 per day, and the hours that it covers. Is it possible for TfL to
investigate applying the congestion charge through operators of private hire
vehicles, like Uber, rather than directly on the precariously employed drivers
themselves?
The
congestion charge is not the ideal, long-term measure for managing traffic in
London, and exemptions can only go so far in making it less blunt. This is the
time to be developing plans to rapidly deliver smart, fair, privacy-friendly
road pricing, so that it can be in operation as our city recovers, controlling
congestion, reducing pollution and providing further resilience to TfL
finances. I would welcome an update on the current preparedness at TfL to
deliver smart, fair, privacy-friendly road pricing.
I’m glad
that you are taking actions to avoid gridlock and I’m especially glad to see
the scale of the emerging Streetspace plans. Delivering safe space for walking
and cycling has never been more crucial as we live with the ongoing threat of
coronavirus.
Yours
sincerely,
Caroline
Russell
Green
Party Member of the London Assembly
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