PNC Congestion & ULEZ charge and Vauxhall Bridge Traffic Management
Request ID: FOI-1831-2021
Date published: 07 January 2021
You asked
My Freedom of information requests falls into 2 parts:
Part 1) How many PNC were issued with regards to the Congestion and ULEZ charge in the 4 months prior to the closure of Vauxhall Bridge in August 2020 and how many have issued in the 4 months after the closure?
Part 2) Given the substantial increase in congestion, how has TfL met the requirements set out in Chapter 8 Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations paragraph D3.15.9? The chapter states, Should the works cause continuing congestion unacceptable to the Highway Authority, steps should be taken by the authority to re-route traffic, commencing if need be some distance away from the works. Who outside of TfL has TfL consulted (for example RAC, AA or other motoring groups) in the implementation and ongoing review of the Traffic Management Plan with regards to the closure of Vauxhall Bridge and the extension of the closure outside of the planned 3 months?
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1831-2021/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 December 2020 asking for information about Congestion & ULEZ charge and Vauxhall Bridge Traffic Management.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Part 1) How many PNC were issued with regards to the Congestion and ULEZ charge in the 4 months prior to the closure of Vauxhall Bridge in August 2020 and how many have issued in the 4 months after the closure?
Please note that the Congestion Charging, Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) schemes were suspended from 23 March until 18 May 2020 due to COVID-19.
The changes to the Congestion Charge were implemented on 22 June 2020. Along with the introduction of weekend charging the weekday charging hours were extended from 07:00 – 18:00 to 07:00 – 22:00.
We did not issue PCNs for the first two weekends (27/28 June and 4/5 July) after the charge amendments, instead we issued warning letters.
Please see this information in the table below:
Dates
|
CC PCNs
|
ULEZ PCNs
|
10 Apr-09 Aug
|
249,359
|
75,162
|
10 Aug-09 Dec
|
471,898
|
122,858
|
Part 2) Given the substantial increase in congestion, how has TfL met the requirements set out in Chapter 8 Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations paragraph D3.15.9? The chapter states, Should the works cause continuing congestion unacceptable to the Highway Authority, steps should be taken by the authority to re-route traffic, commencing if need be some distance away from the works. Who outside of TfL has TfL consulted (for example RAC, AA or other motoring groups) in the implementation and ongoing review of the Traffic Management Plan with regards to the closure of Vauxhall Bridge and the extension of the closure outside of the planned 3 months?
TfL followed the statutory processes required to implement and place signage for this diversion to re-route traffic away from the works in question.
I have attached the Temporary Traffic Order and Diversion route plans for the partial bridge closure used to carry out the works from 9 August to 30 November 2020.
- TfL consulted and held briefings with local authorities and emergency services to review and confirm traffic management plans in advance of formally advertising the Traffic Order.
- Section 14 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 has been used to implement the bridge closure. Notice of Intent was published in advance of order coming into force.
- Key consultees were; LB Lambeth, LB Wandsworth, City of Westminster, Met police, London Fire Brigade, TfL Buses (including Cycling, Road User Charging) and London Ambulance Service. Stakeholders briefings were held with individual boroughs.
- The diversion route was designed to keep journey times as short as possible and on roads suitable to handle the volume of traffic.
- Congestion Charging and ULEZ exempt routes were signed. This is shown in the attached diversion plan.
- Traffic management has been designed in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual and General Directions.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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