§ Mr. HindTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be in a position to make public the full analysis of the survey of the red route pilot scheme carried out last autumn; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeI have today published the results of the autumn monitoring of the pilot scheme independently designed and assessed by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. Copies are being placed in the Library, and I am writing to all London MPs about them. The report shows that red route measures bring shorter, more reliable journey times for existing traffic, notably for buses, ease the flow of traffic and greatly improve safety on and off the route. London Buses is planning to introduce a new, limited stop, bus service on the pilot route taking advantage of the benefits to buses being produced. The environment is enhanced through the reduction of stopping and starting on the route, the improvement of roadside conditions, and the attraction of traffic away from residential side roads. Improvements are being achieved in spite of an increase in the volume of traffic now using the route, nearly all of which appears to be coming from side-roads in the corridor. Variations in trading activity are recorded but they seem to depend more on the type of business being conducted and the economic climate than on red route measures.