Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the Olympic Delivery Authority
RE: TRANSPORT INFORMATION FOR CMS COMMITTEE
I write following your request for further information on the transport network ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer.
Transport for London (TfL) has published very detailed transport “hotspot” information covering London’s roads and public transport network. This information was published on TfL’s website in September 2011 and is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/2012.
The information includes tube station “hotspot” maps and travel advice for the 30 most affected stations, and is based on the latest data and information TfL has available. Detailed station descriptions have been produced that show impact at these stations throughout each day of the Games, and at half-hour intervals. It includes projected waiting time to board a service.
The information shows the impact at stations if nothing was done to manage the demand from Games spectators and regular customers, taking into account seasonal demand patterns. Importantly, it also shows how the impact is alleviated when an anticipated reduction of 20% in the total number of journeys is achieved as a result of changed travel patterns at these locations. This reduction is based on work being undertaken by TfL and London 2012 in consultation with businesses, who already expect and have planned that some staff will not travel at these times and locations as they will be working at another location, working from home, taking holiday—perhaps to attend the Games as a spectator—or working longer hours, but fewer days in each week.
For many station “hotspots”, this reduction in journeys significantly addresses the impact of the Games, other than on particularly busy days and times. For a few stations, a significant challenge remains and TfL is continuing to work with local employers to ensure they understand the impacts, can plan ahead and that we can further mitigate the impacts at these stations. The “hotspot” information was released eight months ahead of the Games to ensure that businesses and individuals have time to prepare.
Two thirds of London’s Tube and DLR stations will see no impact, in terms of additional time taken to board a train. However, on the busiest days, there will an additional three million journeys in London as people watch the Games and attend cultural events, meaning the road and public transport networks will be much busier than usual in certain locations.
Regarding conclusions in the recent National Audit Office Report, two key challenges that took longer than anticipated to achieve were:
Transport planning for new locations such as training facilities.
Communicating the transport impact at all competition venues.
In the last few weeks very comprehensive information on these issues has been released by LOCOG and TfL to the public and businesses respectively. Weekly progress review meetings are being held to ensure that these elements of Games transport planning remain on track.
Overall, we remain confident that transport planning for the Games continues to make strong progress, with key milestones delivered such as £6.5 billion of wider transport infrastructure delivered on time, the launch of the final overall transport plan earlier this year, and transport tickets for all modes were bookable a year before the Games.
John Armitt
Chairman
22 December 2011