Mayor confirms £4.1m for local transport improvements in Richmond upon Thames

The Mayor of London today confirmed £4.1m for Richmond upon Thames to spend on local transport improvements during 2010/11, including £630,000 for essential road maintenance and £1.1m for major schemes. 

Richmond upon Thames has been developing proposals for a number of schemes that it will be financing with the funding package, including:

• £100,000 for improvements to Barnes Station, including the installation of a puffin crossing, bus stop improvements and footway widening on Rocks Lane
• £280,000 for improvements to the A308 Hampton Court Road, including a review of bus stop points, walking and cycle links and the installation of an equestrian crossing next to Hampton Mews
• £30,000 to provide secure cycle parking at Richmond Station and improve links to the borough cycle network
• £100,000 to introduce a 20mph zone from Richmond Circus to Bridge Street
• £200,000 for improvements to Kew Road opposite Richmond Station, with the area being made more pedestrian and cycle-friendly and traffic flow smoothed by relocating an existing zebra crossing and changing to a puffin crossing
• £90,000 to continue cycle training initiatives
• £500,000 towards the completion George Street town centre scheme including wider crossings, de-cluttering, more accessible bus stops, improved lighting and renewed paving within the traditional street environment. There are proposals to pedestrianise the forecourt at Richmond Station and simplify the layouts of the bus stops and taxi rank

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'Even in these tough economic times I am committed to providing this funding to all of London's boroughs.

'The investment means that across the Capital, town centres and public spaces are being overhauled, cycling and walking facilities are being improved, and roads are being made safer.

'We have cut red tape to make it easier for borough councils to choose the local transport projects that benefit their residents the most, simplifying the funding system and working together to give local people the improvements they want.

This time we're also giving an extra focus to cycling - helping to provide the training, cycle parking, and maintenance knowhow to support the introduction of the first two Cycle Superhighways next year.'

Funding for local schemes is allocated each year by Transport for London (TfL).

The Mayor has simplified the system - reducing the number of funding streams from 23 to five, and introducing fairer funding formulas where needed. 

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said: 'Richmond has identified a range of small and large scale projects that will make a real difference to local people by improving town centres and public spaces, reducing the number of collisions on our roads and improving the environment and promoting greener forms of travel. 

'Richmond also has the flexibility to move certain funding between projects if, during the course of the year, they find more or less funding is needed for individual schemes.'

• Each borough produces a Local Implementation Plan (LIP) to demonstrate how they plan to implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy locally
• While TfL allocated funding for individual schemes, the LIP and delivery of individual projects is the responsibility of each borough
• In addition to the usual borough allocation, TfL has included £100,000 for each of the boroughs to spend locally on transport as they choose
• Below is a table with a breakdown of LIP funding for Southwark: