Central London Aims to Cut Traffic Volume in Half

The 1.1 square mile that defines the City of London aims to lower its speed limit to 15 mph and reduce motor traffic 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2044, Autocar reports.

More than 90% of the people who work in the city center already commute via public transport, according to the magazine.

The proposed transport strategy would turn the city center into Britain’s first large-scale urban zero emission zone, largely by imposing new access tolls on traffic. Such fees would be in addition to the zone’s existing “congestion charge” and ultra-low-emission zone restrictions.

Delivery vehicle access to the central city would be managed too. The plan envisions sites outside the area where freight would be consolidated, then brought in through a system of load restrictions and timed access.

Autocar says the strategy is being finalized and will go through a final consultation process before being approved in early 2019. The policy would apply only to the City of London, also called the Square Mile, which is at the center of the 33 districts that constitute Greater London.