| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Traffic Light Timing on A4 Brentford | |
| Posted by: | Chris Calvi-Freeman | |
| Date/Time: | 01/08/12 10:34:00 |
There have been a number of threads recently on the traffic signals issue. Responsibility for the operation of all the traffic lights in our borough rests with Transport for London, on red routes such as the A4 and on Borough-controlled roads. Hounslow Borough officers have complained to TfL about the changes made to signals timings, which are, according to TfL, necessary in order to “protect the Chiswick Roundabout and the Olympic Lanes along the A4”. Technically, the changes TfL have made are known as “gating” and are designed to hold back traffic and therefore reduce the amount of traffic on the roundabout and the A4 to a level consistent with the reduced capacity of the TfL road network, which now has some lanes available only to Olympic-family vehicles. The Borough contends that the gating has been unnecessarily severe and that a lack of consultation by TfL prevented the Borough from using its local knowledge to assist TfL to develop a more effective and less disruptive gating strategy. Two meetings have taken place recently between senior TfL and borough officers (several boroughs have attended, as each is similarly affected). TfL has acknowledged the current problems, particularly in terms of lack of consultation on specific junctions, and has requested feedback on specific junctions that boroughs feel are not adjusted correctly. Hounslow has of course supplied this information, and is continuing to do so on a very frequent basis. The Borough (and others) are continuing to call for the worst-performing junctions to be adjusted again as soon as possible to try to mitigate the problems caused by the gating strategy. The Borough is taking all reasonable steps to try to address the current congestion problems on our local roads, but TfL has a clear responsibility to assist LOCOG to meet its Olympic transport obligations. Recently (from last Monday) we have noted that some of the Games Lanes have been turned off. It’s unclear whether TfL have reduced the gating timings accordingly, but the Borough is continuing to monitor the situation and press for this to happen. Incidentally, the Borough was instrumental in having the M4 flyover over the Chiswick roundabout (Junctions 1 to 2) reopened when the Highways Agency shut the M4 elevated motorway a few weeks ago to protect the Boston Manor viaduct. This action prevented traffic snarl-ups from being even worse at that time that they would otherwise have been. Chris Calvi-Freeman Head of Transport London Borough of Hounslow ________________________________________ |