Despite reduction in Transport for London's (TfL's) central Government funding, investment levels maintained for the borough to deliver the Mayor's Transport Strategy.
"Public squares and local shopping areas will be rejuvenated, attracting more people to the area to boost the local economy."
Peter Hendy CBE
London's Transport Commissioner

Public squares and local shopping areas will be rejuvenated, attracting more people to the area to boost the local economy.

  • TfL to help reduce costs and co-ordinate works on the boroughs main roads to reduce impact of roadworks

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has today announced £3.5m for Tower Hamlets to invest in transport projects that will benefit the local community.  

TfL has allocated the money through Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding for the borough to spend on projects that support the Mayor's Transport Strategy.

The funding is awarded to support projects in the London boroughs that will make cycling safer and easier, improve walking facilities, make roads safer, smooth traffic flow and breathe new life into town centres, public squares and local shopping areas to boost the local economy.

The £3.5m funding package in 2013/14 will finance a range of transport projects in Tower Hamlets, including:

  • £150,000 towards cycle route improvements
  • £125,000 to provide cycle training for all abilities to facilitate safer cycling for adults and school children across the borough
  • £100,000 to improve pedestrian crossings and make it easier and safer for all road users

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'This funding will benefit all of London and everyone living in, working in or visiting Tower Hamlets. 

'A world-class city deserves a world-class transport system and the borough will use this money to make significant improvements for local people.'

This year, two new measures have been introduced which will help the boroughs to drive down their costs, deliver value for money and minimise the disruption caused by construction works and road maintenance.  

Boroughs can use the new London Highways Alliance Contracts (LoHAC) to avoid the need for each authority to separately appoint contractors to undertake works. 

Working in partnership

These are four area-based joint highway contracts awarded in November by TfL and the boroughs to reduce costs, provide consistency in the quality of works and materials and to minimise disruption.

In addition, projects undertaken on main roads in the boroughs will be coordinated by TfL so that the method and timing of roadworks is managed to reduce their impact in the capital and associated inconvenience and disruption to residents and road users.

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy CBE, said: 'We are working in partnership with Tower Hamlets and with all the London boroughs to bring real improvements to communities across the city. 

'The borough will be using this investment to fund hundreds of projects that will benefit all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. 

Safer and easier schemes

Public squares and local shopping areas will be rejuvenated, attracting more people to the area to boost the local economy.'

Last year in Tower Hamlets it funded 203 cycle parking spaces, cycle training for 3,579 children and 624 adults, five new accessible bus stops, enabled 13 schools to participate in walking events and 29 schools in cycling events.

Notable projects undertaken in Tower Hamlets this year include measures to make cycling safer and easier and schemes to support the Olympic Games including public realm improvements around Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs which received £200,000.

Notes to editors:

  • Each borough produces a LIP to demonstrate how they plan to implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy locally. While individual transport projects is the responsibility of each borough