TfL set out plans to adapt road charging scheme to discourage companies from digging on London’s roa

Transport for London (TfL) has set out plans to make works on the capital's road network safer and less disruptive, by making changes to its pioneering Lane Rental scheme and introducing a new Roadworks Charter for utility companies. The Lane Rental scheme, which TfL say has saved £100 million of lost travel time since its introduction in 2012, allows the transport regulator to charge utility companies a daily fee for digging up the busiest sections of London's roads at the busiest times.

This encourages companies to plan the works they need to carry out outside of the most sensitive times. All money raised from the scheme is reinvested in initiatives and innovations designed to reduce disruption caused by roadworks across the capital. In 2018/19, TfL invested £6.1m in London's road network using funding raised through the scheme on a number of projects. Glynn Barton, TfL's Director of Network Management, said: “Roadworks are a vital and unavoidable part of keeping the capital's complex utilities in working order, but we're fully aware that they can be a pain for people using the roads, as well as a cause of danger, congestion and toxic air. “We're working very closely with the industry on schemes such as Lane Rental and our Roadworks Charter to reduce the impact of roadworks and to keep people moving safely around the capital.” TfL say that since Lane Rental was introduced in 2012, there has been a 65% increase in companies working at the same site, at the same time, and a 30% rise in planned utility works at night.

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