December 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference is examining priorities and next steps for developing transport services and infrastructure in London - including moving on from the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Areas for discussion include:
- public transport
- infrastructure
- regeneration
- the London Plan
- decarbonisation
The conference is bringing together stakeholders with staff from the House of Commons and key policy officials who are due to attend from DfT; the Office of Rail and Road; the Joint Air Quality Unit; Defra; MHCLG; the NAO; the National Infrastructure Commission; BEIS; DCMS; and DIT.
The agenda:
- Moving forward the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, and overcoming challenges from COVID-19
- Delivering future transport projects in London - finance, planning and innovative practice
- The London bus network and services - rebuilding user confidence in public transport
- Next steps for meeting passenger demand in London and improving service delivery
- The business case for transport development and accelerating infrastructure projects
- Expanding regional development - new rail infrastructure in London and increasing connectivity with the South East
- Transport connectivity and opportunities for London business
- Delivery of infrastructure projects and accelerating London’s economic recovery
- Transport, housing and regenerating London
- Accelerating decarbonisation across the transport network, preparing London for the low-carbon transition, and supporting active travel
Key discussion areas:
- public transport:
- the London Transition Board - priorities for its strategy for transport and part of the response to the COVID-19 crisis and supporting recovery going forward
- restoring services - assessing prospects of a return to pre-pandemic levels, and initiatives for:
- encouraging residents and commuters to begin using the public transport network
- assessing safety measures in place for school travel
- scaling up - priorities for operators and their partners to enhance the frequency of bus, overground and tube services, implications of social distancing, and rebuilding user confidence
- financial sustainability - restoring and maximising revenue generation, a medium and long-term financial and operational recovery plan, and minimising risks for infrastructure delivery
- collaboration and engagement - strategies for coordinating public and private project development, and giving a voice to passenger and community groups
- infrastructure:
- transport projects - examining their future across London, their scope and how they can be organised and targeted to best support the economy and the needs of different stakeholders
- the London Transport Strategy - assessing progress and the further measures needed to achieve core objectives, including:
- futureproofing - infrastructure resilience and preparation for the future with a growing population
- enabling intermodal transport city-wide
- expanding connectivity - to Greater London and the wider South East
- regeneration - how best to accelerate and maximise the impact of transport infrastructure development:
- rail - priorities for new stations, services and line modernisation, connections to Kent, Essex and elsewhere, and evaluating challenges and progress for Crossrail and Elizabeth line stations
- infrastructure - how to accelerate and coordinate finance, planning and other elements to move forward development of shovel-ready transport projects
- supporting London businesses - assessing key areas such as reducing barriers to travel, trade and collaboration, and supporting productivity and economic activity in outer London
- the London Plan - its objectives around transport and housing development as a means of fuelling economic growth:
- the Housing Secretary’s concerns - on housing delivery and planning regulation
- coordination and connectivity - strategic development of transport links and unlocking potential for housing and wider property development, across the London region
- planning - the potential impact of the Planning for the future White Paper and its proposals for streamlining regulation on London and its economy
- decarbonisation:
- priorities and next steps - strategies and implications for health, transport businesses and the economy of decarbonising London’s transport system
- active travel - the Streetspace for London programme initiated in response to COVID-19, opportunities for reforming road space for new cycle lanes, greater walking space and car-free zones, as well as assessing those schemes put in place during lockdown such as ‘pop-up’ spaces for pedestrians and cyclists
- accelerating the switch to low-carbon forms of transport - priorities for further public and private sector investment in electric public transport, working with local authorities and other stakeholders to roll out charging locations, and opportunities for ultra-low emission zones
- approaches to changing public behaviours, as part of a wider green recovery from COVID-19, including introducing greater fines for cars using bus lanes, and extending the ULEZ
Relevant background and developments:
- COVID-19 - ongoing impact on staff welfare, passenger demands and attitudes, delivering safe capacity, accessibility, continuing transport projects, and financial sustainability as London transitions from national restrictions to local Tier 2 restrictions
- the National Infrastructure Strategy - with Government arguing that levelling up other parts of the country does not mean ‘levelling London down’ - as the focus for investment is emphasised in regions outside of London
- the PM’s Ten-Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution - including an announcement on ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles after 2030
- the Mayor’s Green New Deal fund - including investment in low emission transport through the 2030 Future Neighbourhoods programme, as well as towards the long-term aim of bus electrification
- Government bailout to keep London transport running - government grants Transport for London with a new funding package, with reports that conditions in the package include TfL stopping consultancy work on Crossrail 2 and working with a government-led review on driverless trains
- Terms of reference for the government led financial review of Transport for London - agreed on as part of the previous funding package, to identify options for strengthening TfL’s financial stability
- TfL’s Budget and Business Plan - for improving services and the physical infrastructure to boost capacity, such as overground line and signalling, creating more step-free access, and alleviating road congestion through highway, bridge, and tunnel development
- the Mayor’s Transport Strategy - remaining objectives including developing infrastructure resilience, enabling city-wide inter-modal transport, and expanding connectivity with the wider South East
- Gear change: a bold vision for cycling and walking - £2bn announced by the PM for expanding walking and cycling options nationally - including ‘Mini-Hollands’ in London - with new cycle and pedestrian routes, rolling out e-bikes for the elderly and longer distance journeys, and setting higher standards for cycling infrastructure
- the London Environment Strategy - including scaling up and facilitating healthier modes of transport, improving city-wide air quality, and encouraging the adoption of low-emission vehicles
Policy officials attending
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stake holders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from the Department for Transport; Defra; MHCLG; the National Audit Office; the National Infrastructure Commission; BEIS; the DCMS; the Department for International Trade; the Joint Air Quality Unit; and the Office of Rail and Road.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
