Skip to main content

Mayor’s lane rental scheme cuts roadwork disruption

A new study into London’s lane rental scheme shows that since its introduction the amount of serious and severe disruption caused by planned roadworks has been cut by 46 per cent on the capital’s busiest roads, reducing delays for all road users. The scheme, which came into effect in June 2012 on the busiest parts of London’s road network, is designed to encourage utility companies to avoid digging up the busiest roads at peak traffic times. Following the introduction of the scheme, around 90 per cent of
April 11, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
A new study into London’s lane rental scheme shows that since its introduction the amount of serious and severe disruption caused by planned roadworks has been cut by 46 per cent on the capital’s busiest roads, reducing delays for all road users.

The scheme, which came into effect in June 2012 on the busiest parts of London’s road network, is designed to encourage utility companies to avoid digging up the busiest roads at peak traffic times. Following the introduction of the scheme, around 90 per cent of utility works and 99 per cent of works carried out by 1466 Transport for London (TfL) in the lane rental areas have avoided disrupting these busy roads at peak times.

All surplus money raised through the lane rental scheme is reinvested into measures to further reduce the disruption, including: automatic roadwork monitoring cameras, allowing TfL to better determine whether work is taking place on worksites; automatic number plate recognition cameras and automatic traffic counters to capture the effects of a scheme to ensure that it continues to reduce disruption; further investigation into innovative ways of reducing disruption.

Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “We are delighted by the success of this scheme - which was both a First for London and the UK when it was introduced by the Mayor in 2012. It has already saved Londoners thousands of hours spent stuck in traffic and is set to save them many thousands more.”

Alan Bristow, Director of Road Space Management at TfL, said: “The introduction of the UK’s First lane rental scheme in London has already delivered significant benefits across the capital. By using this scheme to help fund more innovation and world-leading technologies, we can continue to reduce disruption and keep all road users on London’s road network moving.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • TfL expands SCOOT adaptive traffic management
    January 14, 2013
    Microsimulation traffic modelling has supported a further roll-out of SCOOT adaptive traffic signal control in London, demonstrating a 13% reduction in travel delays. Development of a cost-effective traffic modelling system has led to a further major roll-out of SCOOT adaptive traffic management technology in London, says traffic and software programme director Gavin Jackman of UK transport consultancy TRL. The roll-out of SCOOT at 600 additional intersections, now at its midpoint, is a central plank in the
  • TfL expands SCOOT adaptive traffic management
    January 11, 2013
    Microsimulation traffic modelling has supported a further roll-out of SCOOT adaptive traffic signal control in London, demonstrating a 13% reduction in travel delays. Development of a cost-effective traffic modelling system has led to a further major roll-out of SCOOT adaptive traffic management technology in London, says traffic and software programme director Gavin Jackman of UK transport consultancy TRL. The roll-out of SCOOT at 600 additional intersections, now at its midpoint, is a central plank in the
  • TfL expands SCOOT adaptive traffic management
    January 11, 2013
    Microsimulation traffic modelling has supported a further roll-out of SCOOT adaptive traffic signal control in London, demonstrating a 13% reduction in travel delays. Development of a cost-effective traffic modelling system has led to a further major roll-out of SCOOT adaptive traffic management technology in London, says traffic and software programme director Gavin Jackman of UK transport consultancy TRL. The roll-out of SCOOT at 600 additional intersections, now at its midpoint, is a central plank in the
  • Benefits of investment in ITS technologies
    October 19, 2012
    What price can be put on the value of a life? How much should be spent on preventing untimely deaths? Difficult questions such as these help to put the comparatively small costs of ITS systems into context. While monetary analysis may seem cold and inhumane in consideration of road casualties, death and costly clear-up are often the stark reality transportation authorities are dealing with. This issue of ITS International contains numerous examples of large benefits to be gained from relatively modest inves