Request ID: FOI-0722-2122 Date published: 27 July 2021
You asked
My requests are as follows:-
I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms about the congestion and pollution caused by the Euston Road traffic scheme.
Can you please feedback to me on:
1. What feedback have you sought from drivers?
2. What is the increased average journey time?
3. What is the increase in pollution levels?
I travel from within London to outside of London to work in a hospital.
My journey is certainly not a luxury; there are no public transport options.
4. Can we expect to see you talking to motorists on the Euston Rd to hear for yourself what mayhem the traffic arrangements have caused.
5. How much has been spent reversing the scheme to date (floating bus stops removed; bus lanes turned back to normal lanes etc).
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0722-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6th July 2021 asking for information about the Euston Road Streetspace programme.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1. What feedback have you sought from drivers?
We have made it possible through a comprehensive engagement programme for anyone who has a view about the changes to Euston Road to tell us that view. Comments can continue to be made at: [email protected]
Question 2. What is the increased average journey time?
The most recent average journey times (July 2021) on the A501 Marylebone Road / Euston Road (north eastbound carriageway) between 7am and 7pm were 8 minutes per kilometre compared to 4.6 minutes per kilometre in 2019. This is a journey time difference of 6 minutes along Marylebone Road / Euston Road
Question 3. What is the increase in pollution levels?
There has not been an increase in air pollution compared to pre-pandemic levels. Regular air quality monitoring is carried out on Euston Road tracking levels of air pollution including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM25). The monitoring data suggests that there was a significant reduction to air pollution concentrations and traffic levels in March 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic compared to 2019. Traffic levels and air pollution levels slowly increased during the later months of 2020, particularly around November but remained below 2019 levels. The Euston Road cycle lane scheme was installed in August 2020. Levels of air pollution increased during the early months of this year as more traffic returned to the network, before dropping again in May and June. Pollution levels have not returned to pre-pandemic levels (2019) and there appears to be no indication of any significant impacts of local schemes (for example the cycle lane scheme) on air pollution levels.
Question 4. Can we expect to see you talking to motorists on the Euston Rd to hear for yourself what mayhem the traffic arrangements have caused.
See answer to Q1 - we have made it possible for anyone who has a view about Euston Road to tell us that view and we have listened carefully to all the feedback that we have received. We would consult widely with any affected stakeholders before making any further changes to this scheme.
Question 5. How much has been spent reversing the scheme to date (floating bus stops removed; bus lanes turned back to normal lanes etc).
The removal of the westbound cycle lane, including removing the floating bus stops and restoring the original road layout, cost Transport for London £156,719.
I further note your email of 13th July 2021 in which you asked me to pass on your complaint to the Mayor’s office. However, I note that you have already contacted the Mayor’s office directly yourself - your email below of 6th July 2021 refers. I also note that on 6th July 2021 the Mayor’s office wrote to you stating that “Transport for London (TfL) is the Mayor's transport authority and is responsible for implementing the Mayor's Transport Strategy, and for the day-to-day operational running of transport services.” Given this, there seems no value in me passing on your correspondence to the GLA again. I would suggest that if you have comments or a complaint about the scheme that you send it to: [email protected]
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
