[sustran] Government rewards London for tackling congestion

[Sunny]

    Government rewards London for tackling congestion

Traffic damages the environment and the economy, government warns

http://www.businessgreen.com/2237107

Despite some criticism of mayor Boris Johnson's record on the environment,
it appears that central government at least is pleased with the progress
London has made to curb congestion.

The Department for Transport has announced that it is awarding Greater
London £3.9m as part of the government's Urban Congestion Fund after the
capital exceeded targets for tackling traffic problems.

Transport minister Paul Clark claimed the extra funding should be used to
help London continue to tackle congestion, which should also have economic
benefits.

"I am delighted that Greater London is being rewarded for beating its
congestion targets. The money will help local authorities give road users in
these areas faster, safer and more reliable journeys – benefiting the local
economy," said Clark.

Aside from the obvious environmental impact of slow-moving traffic from
exhaust emissions, congestion has serious consequences for the economy,
according to the DFT. "Across England we have now provided nearly £23m to
the participating authorities to tackle urban congestion which is
responsible for 80 per cent of all our congestion problems," added Clark.

According to recently released transport statistics, in the London area, the
average journey time fell by 5.1 per cent, while the average level of travel
fell by 1.5 per cent.

The apparent drop in congestion in the capital follows recent criticism of
mayor Johnson for his handling of traffic management in the capital after
Transport for London admitted in a report that congestion in London's
congestion charge zone was now as bad as it had been in February 2003 before
the charge was introduced.

The return to pre-congestion charge levels was put down to a reduction in
road space resulting from increased road works and more allocation of space
to bikes and buses.

In a statement released last year, Friends of the Earth also criticised the
mayor's environmental record for his first 100 days in office. The mayor
initiated several measures that could have taken London in the "wrong
direction ", including scrapping plans to introduce an emissions-related
congestion charge for London and re-opening the public consultation on a
western extension of the original charging zone, the group claimed.

But despite recognising London's progress on tackling congestion, the
mayor's office and central government remain firmly divided on the issue of
a third runway at Heathrow.

"The massive expansion in Heathrow's capacity would have an adverse impact
on efforts to tackle climate change, it would increase aircraft noise,
worsen road congestion and further reduce air quality in one of the most
polluted parts of London," the mayor said in a recent statement.

According to the DFT, London is one of 10 urban areas across the UK sharing
a total of £10.7m for beating congestion targets. The other areas are
Nottingham, Leicester, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Tyne & Wear,
Merseyside, the west of England, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

The £60m Urban Congestion Performance Fund was set up to help cities and
towns in the UK tackle congestion. Further funds will be available over the
next two years, provided the areas continue to exceed their target
performance, the government claims.

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Sunny
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