Request ID: FOI-1972-2425 Date published: 03 October 2024
You asked
Please can you provide the current status of the bus lane that was introduced on Woodford Avenue (A1400) earlier this year (20224) between Clayhall Avenue and Beehive Lane in Redbridge.
The lane was set up and the signage erected; bu then in June 2024, TFL covered up some of the signs and advised the lane was not in use due to lack of public consultation.
If the lane is not in use, please can the remainder of the signs be covered up as its confusing and cauisng traffic as people are avoiding using the lane.
What is the current status and what is proposed to either enable the bus lane to be used, or revert back to being a dual carriage way for all vehicles?
I apologise if this is the wrong forum to make this enquiery; but having been on the TFL website for almost an hour finding who I need to contact, it's not clear!
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1972-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 19th September 2024 asking for information about the bus lane on Woodford Avenue.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Please can you provide the current status of the bus lane that was introduced on Woodford Avenue (A1400) earlier this year (20224) between Clayhall Avenue and Beehive Lane in Redbridge.
The lane was set up and the signage erected; but then in June 2024, TFL covered up some of the signs and advised the lane was not in use due to lack of public consultation.
If the lane is not in use, please can the remainder of the signs be covered up as its confusing and causing traffic as people are avoiding using the lane.
What is the current status and what is proposed to either enable the bus lane to be used, or revert back to being a dual carriage way for all vehicles?”.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
The Woodford Avenue bus lanes went into official operation on the 1st of March 2024. The bus lanes were designed to provide benefits to bus routes 123, 179 and 679 as well as the new limited stop, express Superloop route 2 (SL2), which launched on the 2nd of March 2024. As well as providing strategic benefits, the implementation of the bus lanes provides benefits to customers travelling to key desire points within the area including:
Beal High School, the largest comprehensive secondary school in England.
Spire London East Hospital (formerly known as Spire Roding Hospital).
Local Primary schools.
Gants Hill, Redbridge, or South Woodford Underground stations.
Journeys to these locations and on these routes will see an improvement in the overall journey time, therefore helping to make a reliable and attractive service for all our customers, as set out in the Bus Action Plan. On the 1st of June 2024, TfL took the decision to suspend the bus lane in both directions. This decision was made following the feedback we received from local residents and stakeholders, detailing their concerns around increased traffic and congestion in the area following implementation, as well as questions about how we engaged with the public prior implementation. Since then, TfL have been analysing bus and general traffic journey times as well as traffic speeds in order to inform next steps and any decisions made about the bus lane. We have recently completed analysing the data collected since the bus lanes were implemented, but prior to the lanes being suspended. We are due to speak to London Borough of Redbridge officers in the coming weeks to discuss next steps for the project. We anticipate that we will be able to share the outcome shortly. Should any changes to the bus lanes be required following our analysis, we will undertake these as a matter of priority. Since the bus lanes have been suspended, we have provided black coverings over the existing bus lane signs and increased our monitoring and maintenance of the condition of the coverings to ensure that they remain in good condition and determine that the bus lane is not in operation. This is a common means of signifying temporary suspension of traffic management across London. The checking and maintenance of the coverings is performed weekly by our contractors. If we receive reports of signs not being covered or coverings potentially damaged, we inform our contractors so they can prioritise those locations in their weekly maintenance. Members of the public can report any such issues via our online Streetcare tool here: https://streetcare.tfl.gov.uk/
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
