Request ID: FOI-1275-2324 Date published: 15 September 2023
You asked
• The traffic impact assessment undertaken in line with a legitimate use of the road.
• Correspondence (including letters, emails, records of telephone conversations and records of meetings), dated from 25 January 2022 when the consultation started to the present, between City of London and TFL regarding Air Quality in relation to licensed taxis/Black Cabs.
• Air Quality reports undertaken prior to and after the consultation and formation of the A10 Bishopsgate bus corridor and associated evidence to demonstrate the project will reduce traffic impacts.
• The detailed traffic modelling and assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of including and excluding licensed taxis/Black Cabs in the traffic mix on the whole of the A10 Bishopsgate considered at the decision stage of the project and when this decision to make the scheme permanent was signed off.
• The quantitative data to show the weekday average hourly flow for each period throughout the restrictions 7am-7pm on just the A10 Bishopsgate for TFL buses, licensed taxis/Black Cabs and cycles only.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1275-2324
Thank you for your request received on 24 July 2023 asking for information about the A10 Bishopsgate.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
In August 2020, we introduced a series of temporary changes along the road in response to the pandemic, which were designed to make it safer and easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. Data from this period suggested that the changes played a vital role in supporting sustainable travel along the corridor. Data showed that the performance of buses on the Bishopsgate corridor has significantly improved and there was a significant increase in the number of people using the Bishopsgate scheme to cycle. Provisional safety data also showed a reduction in overall collisions. In July 2023 the changes made to the A10 Bishopsgate were made permanent in order to help create a healthier and more sustainable city for all Londoners by enabling more people to walk, cycle and use public transport. We remain committed to our Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury on the transport network.
You asked for:
• The traffic impact assessment undertaken in line with a legitimate use of the road
The quarterly monitoring reports outline all of the network assessment that was undertaken. This is available on our website:
• Correspondence (including letters, emails, records of telephone conversations and records of meetings), dated from 25 January 2022 when the consultation started to the present, between City of London and TFL regarding Air Quality in relation to licensed taxis/Black Cabs
We have not had any discussion with the City of London regarding air quality in relation to licensed taxis/Black Cabs.
• Air Quality reports undertaken prior to and after the consultation and formation of the A10 Bishopsgate bus corridor and associated evidence to demonstrate the project will reduce traffic impacts.
Please see the attached air quality study associated with the A10 Bishopsgate scheme.
In accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by regulation 13 of the EIRs. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.
• The detailed traffic modelling and assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of including and excluding licensed taxis/Black Cabs in the traffic mix on the whole of the A10 Bishopsgate considered at the decision stage of the project and when this decision to make the scheme permanent was signed off
Traffic modelling was not undertaken as this was a live experiment. We were testing the live operation of the road network with the trial access restrictions. The decision was taken on 14 June, after which time we undertook the work to finalise the traffic orders and prepare the public engagement plan.
• The quantitative data to show the weekday average hourly flow for each period throughout the restrictions 7am-7pm on just the A10 Bishopsgate for TFL buses, licensed taxis/Black Cabs and cycles only.
The full pack of quarterly monitoring reports is available on the consultation website at the link given above. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
