Delivering for London

After being appointed London’s transport commissioner in January this year, I was immediately asked – “how does it feel?”

The answer, then and now, is an immense sense of challenge, yet a confidence we can deliver. The challenge is to lead Britain’s first truly integrated transport authority through a period of major change and growth. The confidence comes from a lifetime working with the dedicated staff who are committed to delivering better transport for London.

What’s top of the in-tray? Anyone working in transport knows that as far as our passengers and users are concerned, our services are only as good as their last experience. So our key aim is to continue improving the day-to-day journeys made by not only our 10 million daily bus, Tube, tram and rail passengers but also all London’s drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and freight movers. To achieve this, we need a constant focus on reliability, co-ordination and information as well as making sure our contractors deliver their obligations.

Keeping the pressure up on our contractors is key to the success of the other main item at the top of the in-tray, delivering our £10 billion five year Investment Programme. This programme involves a number of major projects needed to meet demand for transport as London grows, improvements to the Tube under the Public Private Partnership, borough-led schemes and other projects needed for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

Good progress is already being made with this unprecedented programme of works. As part of the package to support the regeneration of East London, the Docklands Light Railway extension to City Airport is already finished and the extension to Woolwich Arsenal is under way, as is work to extend the East London line. On the Tube, the oldest metro system in the world, we have recently re-opened – on time and on budget – Wembley Park station which will serve the new national stadium. Wembley Park is just one of a further 50 stations that will be improved this year. Another change will be the new Western Ticket Hall at King’s Cross St. Pancras, which will help with transfers from Eurostar and national rail services and be key for the 2012 Games.

One of the most important and satisfying parts of my role as Commissioner is ensuring that TfL plays its part in delivering the Mayor’s wider social agenda. This includes providing transport to secure London’s economic growth, such as Crossrail, as well as social inclusion through the delivery of, for example, a modern bus service and an improved ethnicity and gender balance for our staff to better reflect the make-up of the capital’s diverse population.

Safety and security for our passengers and staff is a top priority. Tackling crime and fear of crime is essential not only for regular passengers but to attract more women and families to use our network, and increase off-peak use.

We have shown a clear commitment to the environment. For example, we are working hard to improve air quality. The congestion charge has played its part by reducing congestion by 30% in central London. Action is being taken now to ensure our buses and black cabs have the cleanest possible engines, with Euro 4 level buses due on our streets later this year. Both hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell buses are being trialled. The Low Emission Zone, planned to come into force in 2008, will support this progress by targeting the oldest, largest and most polluting vehicles.

And we are making sure that our transport network is open to all. We know more work needs to be done on the Underground but our whole bus fleet is now fully accessible and we continue to invest in our Dial-a-Ride and door-to-door services such as Taxicard.

TfL has only been in existence for five full years. We already have a record to be proud of. My challenge now is to ensure that TfL continues to deliver for London.