World Squares for All

What will the strategies do?

Strategy 1

Strategy 2

Private cars and goods vehicles

Daily usage in the study area: 50,000 private cars (43% of all traffic) 17,500 goods vehicles (15% of all traffic

Goods vehicles will be affected by the proposals in the same way as private cars. Further restrictions on delivery times could be considered.

A reduction in traffic in the immediate study area
Traffic restrictions in and around the Squares, including a complete ban on the north side of Trafalgar Square and the south side of Parliament Square and buses and cycles only southbound on the east side of Trafalgar Square
Some of the traffic will divert to alternative routes in central London resulting in an increase in traffic using routes in the surrounding areas, including some streets in the South Bank, Marylebone, Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Holborn, Bloomsbury and Euston areas

Overall 3% increase in traffic congestion in central London
Average increase of 30 seconds for journeys across central London. Many journeys will be unaffected but some longer distance journeys could experience extra delays of 10-20 minutes
Commercial vehicle access and all emergency access will be retained throughout the study area

Further reduction in traffic in the study area
No through traffic on east side of Parliament Square and Abingdon Street
Other notable traffic restrictions include Duncannon Street, Horse Guards Avenue and the west side of Trafalgar Square
Traffic that normally uses the area will choose various alternative routes and the effect will be felt over a wider area than for Strategy 1
A further increase in traffic in the surrounding areas, including some streets in the South Bank, Marylebone, Mayfair Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Holborn, Bloomsbury and Euston areas
Overall 5% increase in traffic congestion in central London
Average increase of 1 minute for journeys across central London. Many journeys will be unaffected but some longer distance journeys could experience extra delays of 10-20 minutes
Commercial vehicle access and all emergency access will be retained throughout the study area

Morning peak hour	Strategy 1	Strategy 2
Covent Garden to Victoria	6 minutes slower	8 minutes slower
Waterloo to Victoria	4 minutes slower	4 minutes slower
Elephant & Castle to Lancaster Gate	5 minutes slower	7 minutes slower
Battersea to Stoke Newington	1 minutes slower	3 minutes slower
Evening peak hour
Victoria to Covent Garden	No change	4 minutes slower
Victoria to Waterloo	1 minute faster	2 minutes slower
Lancaster Gate to Elephant & Castle	2 minutes slower	4 minutes slower
Stoke Newington to Battersea	2 minutes slower	4 minute slower

Buses

Over 4,000 buses on 21 routes pass through the study area each day

47 of London's 48 night bus routes use Trafalgar Square

In either Strategy, there will be over 1.5 miles of new bus lanes provided in the study area

All existing routes can be accommodated within the study area, including night buses
Bus priority measures throughout the study area give improved journey times and reliability to buses
Buses are slightly affected outside the study area by diverting traffic causing congestion elsewhere
Overall bus journey times across central London would be unaffected

All existing routes accommodated within the study area, including night buses
Despite further priority measures within the study area to protect buses from increased congestion, bus journey times are slower than at present
Outside the study area, buses suffer from congestion caused by traffic diverting away from the study area
Overall bus journey times across central London will worsen by 7%

Examples of change in bus journey times (morning peak hour)
Bus route (in one direction)		Strategy 1	Strategy 2
route 11	Bank to Fulham Broadway	1 minute faster	16 minutes slower
route 12	Bayswater to Dulwich	1 minute faster	5 minutes slower
route 24	Pimlico to Hampsted Heath	1 minute faster	7 minutes slower
route 159	Baker Street to Streatham	9 minute faster	2 minutes slower
route 176	Oxford Circus to Penge	No change	1 minutes slower

Taxis 34,000 taxis use the study area every day (29% of all traffic)	Taxis can use all the new bus lanes except the southbound lane on the east side of Trafalgar Square Overall central London journey times will increase	Taxis can use all the bus lanes except on the east side of Trafalgar Square Further increase in central London journey times
	The taxi rank in Broad Sanctuary can be moved to the west side of Parliament Square
Bicycles 3,300 bicycles per day (3% of all traffic)	In both Strategies: Cycling will be safer because of reduced traffic levels and more direct routes Horse Guards Road is pedestrianised with a cycle route with crossing facilities provided at the Mall and Birdcage Walk. The route extends south through Storeys Gate and across a new crossing into Great Smith Street. Orange Street is closed to traffic but open to cyclists Cyclists can use new bus lanes and advanced stop lines at traffic lights In Strategy 2, the eastern sides of Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square closed to general traffic but open to bicycles
Coaches 1,500 coaches visit the area every day (1.5% of all traffic)	In both strategies, coaches would, in general, use the same routes as other traffic. Drop-off facilities at the entrance to Westminster Abbey in Broad Sanctuary could be relocated to Tothill Street. The pick-up facility in Abingdon Street would be retained in both options, allowing tourist coach access to the east side of Parliament Square. A new drop-off facility will be provided in Charles Street under Strategy 2. Round London Sightseeing Tour buses: in both strategies, the existing stops on the northern side of Trafalgar Square will be relocated to locations on the Strand, the west side of Trafalgar Square and the northern end of Whitehall. They can use the eastern sides of Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square
Residents Although people think of this area as a place for visitors and workers, many people live in the heart of Westminster in some of the most beautiful and historic residential areas in the world. An important objective of the study is to protect residential communities in and around the area	Residents living in and visiting the study area will benefit from a safer and less polluted environment because there is less traffic To avoid an increase in traffic in the Smith Square area, traffic management measures are proposed in both strategies, so access by car to some homes in this area will be less direct
	Some of the traffic will divert to alternative routes in central London resulting in an increase in traffic using routes in the surrounding areas, including some streets in the South Bank, Marylebone, Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Holborn, Bloomsbury and Euston	Residents of Whitehall Court will benefit from the reduced traffic in Horse Guards Avenue A further increase in traffic in the surrounding areas
Pedestrians and disabled people	New pavements and pedestrian areas in both strategies add up to twice the total existing area of Trafalgar Square, giving more space for people and the mobility impaired Pedestrians will save on average 1.5 minutes every day in Strategy 1 and 2 minutes a day in Strategy 2 Existing pedestrian crossings are upgraded Each crossing is level with the footway and tactile paving, which will assist the visually impaired Clear and consistent signage provide better information for pedestrians Less traffic means a safer environment.