TfL expands lane rental and tweaks charges

23/02/2021 | CHRIS AMES

Charges under London’s lane rental scheme are to be amended from May and the scheme will be expanded and include footways for the first time.

Transport for London’s (TfL) scheme allows the transport authority to charge utility companies and infrastructure providers a daily fee for digging up the busiest sections of the capital’s roads at the busiest times.

The changes, which also include incentives for high safety standards, have already been approved by the Department for Transport.

TfL said they will make roadworks more efficient and reduce the disruption faced when pavements and cycle routes are blocked by roadworks and help protect bus service reliability.

It added that they will also help it deliver the Mayor’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury on the transport network.

Glynn Barton, TfL’s director of network management, said: ’London’s road network plays an absolutely vital role in keeping the capital moving and this has become more apparent than ever over the last year, with our pavements in particular playing a key role in enabling safer walking journeys.

‘We recognise the hugely important job done by utility companies and we’ve worked closely with the industry to develop these changes to our pioneering scheme, which will boost safety standards and make a real difference to everyone using our road network, including people walking and cycling.’

TfL said the changes follow a review of the scheme’s successes and analysis of how it could continue to support London’s economy and cut congestion in future.

The changes include:

  • Introducing a charge of £350 per day for works that impact on the busiest areas of footway in the capital.
  • Expanding the lane rental network to cover 69% of the TfL Road Network (red routes) – an increase from the 56% currently covered
  • Reducing the length of charging periods to incentivise more off-peak work, with the maximum hours reducing to 06:30 – 20:00 rather than from 06:30 – 22:00 and shorter charging periods applying in many other areas
  • Providing ‘substantial’ discounts to companies who commit to improving their roadworks infrastructure and those that pass safety checks
  • Increasing the low band charge to £1,000 per day (roads covered by the scheme are divided into bands based on how busy the roads are, and the low band charge is currently set at £800 per day)
  • Introducing a new middle band charge of £1,500 per day, which TfL said ‘offsets a higher proportion of streets previously charged out at the maximum £2,500 per day’

TfL said that since lane rental was introduced in 2012, there has been a 65% increase in different companies working at the same site, at the same time, and a 30% rise in planned utility works at night.

More than £20m of cash from charges has been allocated to date to 75 schemes that aim to improve how roadworks are carried out. These include mapping below-ground utility services, robotic technology, training to promote efficiency in on-site working practices and establishing a pilot Infrastructure Co-ordination Service at city hall.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Transport Planner

£47,532 - £50,574
Royal Greenwich is a borough synonymous with first class modern services Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £28,797 - £30,708 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person to join the Service Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Waste Recycling Operative

£25,584 to £27,269, Grade 5
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Waste Recycling Operative. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Project Delivery Senior Team Leader

£74,480 - £85,964
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification) Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual to join our South Lakeland team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Bulky Operative

£25,584.00 - £27,269.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent.
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Bulky Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Project Delivery Team Leader

£57,710 - £71,842
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification). Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts Council

£52000 - £61000 per annum
Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts CouncilNorth Herts CouncilPermanent, Full Time£52,866 - £61,866 per annum, plus car allowance (pay award pe England, Hertfordshire, Letchworth Garden City
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Street Scene Protection Officer - Braintree District Council

£30000 - £34000 per annum
Street Scene Protection Officer - Braintree District CouncilBraintree District CouncilPermanent, Full Time£30,313 to £34,612 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
This is a key support role, helping to deliver a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes across South Lakeland. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Flood Risk Engineering and Strategy Officer

£49,764 - £55,623
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Senior Integrated Transport Officer

£34,324 - £37,529
Are you an experienced transport planning professional ready to influence strategic policy and drive real change Matlock, Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Cleansing Operative

£25,584.00 to £27,269.00, Grade 5
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Street Cleansing Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Gully Operative

£25,584.00 to £27,269.00, Grade 5
Are you a hard-working looking for career in highway maintenance? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Roadworker Trainee LGV Driver (3 Posts)

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay award pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team undertaking major highway, bridge and related construction and reconstruction Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Engineer

£44,430 - £51,663
This post is within the Highways Design and Delivery Team. London (Greater)
Recruiter: Tower Hamlets London Borough Council

Highways Policy and Procedures Officer - WMF3011e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is an exciting opportunity to support the Asset Manager in developing policies and procedures Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highway Maintenance Bridge Engineer

Band G, SCP 32 -37 (£41,511 - £46,731 per annum)
We have an exciting opportunity available within the Highways Service at Sandwell Council House based in Oldbury. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recruiter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW