TfL announce five-year road shake-up to cut congestion with added perk for black taxis
- Perry Richardson
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Transport for London (TfL) has published its first pan-city roadworks and traffic management plan, setting out how the capital’s road network will be operated and upgraded over the next five years, with changes that are expected to affect taxis, private hire vehicles and other commercial road users.
The strategy focuses on using new technology, data and tighter coordination with London boroughs to improve traffic flow, reduce disruption from roadworks and support TfL’s longer-term objectives around safety, sustainability and congestion reduction. While much of the plan centres on improving bus reliability, TfL says the measures are designed to benefit all road users operating on one of the busiest urban networks in the world.
London’s road system includes around 6,400 automated traffic signal junctions and pedestrian crossings, handling billions of journeys each year. TfL says new infrastructure and upgraded control systems will be critical to managing this demand more efficiently, particularly as streets continue to carry more journeys from buses, freight, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians.
A central element of the plan is the continued rollout and enhancement of TfL’s FUSION traffic control system. Already in use across much of the capital, the system will be upgraded to process a wider range of real-time data and react more quickly to changing traffic conditions. TfL estimates the changes could cut delays by up to 14 percent and deliver up to £1bn in economic benefits through reduced journey times. Future upgrades are expected to allow the system to integrate artificial intelligence-based sensors.
Pan-London plan aims to cut congestion, expand lane rental and accelerate bus priority measures by 2030
TfL is also expanding the use of Vivacity AI cameras to better understand how different road users move through the network. The technology can distinguish between pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, taxis and heavy goods vehicles, providing more detailed data than traditional traffic counters. More than 1,000 cameras are expected to feed into shared data platforms with boroughs, informing decisions such as signal timings and crossing phases that can affect vehicle flow and stopping patterns.
For taxi drivers, one of the most immediate operational impacts is likely to come from the expansion of the lane rental scheme. Previously limited to TfL red routes, the scheme charges utilities and contractors for occupying busy roads at peak times. TfL says this has reduced congestion and improved air quality where it operates. From January 2026, four boroughs Camden, Enfield, Lambeth and Merton have already received Department for Transport approval to introduce their own schemes, with a further 22 boroughs progressing applications. The Government is in the process of devolving approval powers to the Mayor, which TfL says should allow more consistent rollout across London.
Bus priority remains a major focus, with knock-on effects for general traffic. TfL says 2,080 traffic signals are already equipped with bus priority technology and plans to expand this to all 3,500 signals used by buses by 2030. For black cabs this could also be key given their access across much of the bus lane network. In addition, signal timing reviews will now be carried out along entire bus routes rather than at isolated junctions, a shift that could also alter traffic patterns on key taxi corridors.
TfL is also expanding BusSense, a borough partnership programme aimed at reducing the impact of major roadworks on bus routes through better coordination and scheduling. Early deployments delivered a 3.5 percent improvement in bus journey times, and TfL aims to work with all boroughs by the autumn. The authority says this approach should reduce severe disruption during major works, which has historically affected taxis as well as buses.
Investment in walking and cycling infrastructure also forms part of the five-year programme. TfL confirmed £87m of ringfenced funding for borough schemes this year, with further investment subject to future funding settlements. Over the next three years, TfL says this could support lower speed limits, junction redesigns and up to 95km of new cycle routes. While primarily aimed at safety and active travel, these schemes can also reshape road layouts used by taxis, particularly in town centres and high-demand areas.
TfL says the new roadworks and traffic management plan will align closely with its forthcoming Vision Zero Action Plan 2, due later this year, and is intended to deliver a safer, more reliable network that supports London’s economy.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m committed to making London’s transport network as safe, efficient, and sustainable as possible. Congestion is annoying for everyone, and it costs our economy millions of pounds a year. This innovative new strategy will tackle the causes of congestion head on.
“This bold new approach to managing the capital’s streets will ensure they work for everyone: harnessing cutting-edge technology and infrastructure to reduce congestion, keep Londoners safe, and speed up journey times on London’s bus network.
“These improvements are vital to achieving my ambition for 80 per cent of journeys to be made by walking, cycling or public transport, as we continue building a greener and better London for everyone.”
Carl Eddleston, TfL’s Director of Streets and Network Operations, said: "We’re determined to ensure London’s road network is amongst the best in the world and the new London on the move plan marks a major step forward in how we manage London’s streets. By harnessing data, technology and the benefits of new infrastructure, our 2030 vision will see a better, safer street network that is better suited to the needs of Londoners today and tomorrow. We’ll continue to work with London’s boroughs and our other partners as we work to deliver this plan over the next five years."
