§ 39. Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the capacity of the London road system to carry increased numbers of road vehicles.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMany main roads in London are already at or near capacity. Many minor roads are used as rat runs. Forecasts suggest that to the year 2001 road traffic could increase by the order of 1 per cent. to 2 per cent. per annum in outer and inner London, and by less than 1 per cent. per annum in the central area.
The approach to accommodating this growth is based on improving trunk roads to take traffic around London, supporting borough road schemes, promoting new technology to improve traffic management, encouraging better parking controls and promoting efficient and attractive public transport.
These steps are being supplemented by a series of major studies including the London assessment studies, which are looking at four areas with particularly severe transport problems.
The alterations associated with low cost, high return casualty reduction measures affect capacity on roads and at junctions. Over 170 such sites have been identified trunk roads in London, including ex. GLC roads.