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Post by snoggle on May 16, 2014 11:46:02 GMT
Looks like the long rumoured conversion of Tottenham Court Road to 2 way working will go ahead soon. Newspaper link |
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Post by T.R. on May 16, 2014 18:03:12 GMT
Not surprised to be honest - might have to remodel Warren Street junction again now!.
[idea]Slightly controversial, why not two-way Gower St, then restrict the whole/bottom end of TCR (from Goodge St south) to buses/coaches/taxis - leaving Gower to handle private traffic*?[/idea]
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Post by snoggle on May 17, 2014 9:52:37 GMT
Not surprised to be honest - might have to remodel Warren Street junction again now!. [idea]Slightly controversial, why not two-way Gower St, then restrict the whole/bottom end of TCR (from Goodge St south) to buses/coaches/taxis - leaving Gower to handle private traffic*?[/idea] I understand the recent works at "Euston Cross" were designed to allow TCR to be converted to 2 way working. If you've seen the junction you'll note the lack of road markings which I suspect *might* change if north - south flows go 2 way. I suspect there may need to be some tweaks to the light timings at Euston Cross but otherwise it can cope. I expect Gower Street will probably be traffic calmed with the pavements widened to reduce total traffic flow. Whether it goes 2 way I don't know as I suspect Camden Council and TfL will not really want to increase total road capacity in the area preferring to keep most of it on TCR although I expect TfL will insist on full bus lanes in each direction on TCR. |
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Post by John tuthill on May 17, 2014 10:26:25 GMT
Not surprised to be honest - might have to remodel Warren Street junction again now!. [idea]Slightly controversial, why not two-way Gower St, then restrict the whole/bottom end of TCR (from Goodge St south) to buses/coaches/taxis - leaving Gower to handle private traffic*?[/idea] I understand the recent works at "Euston Cross" were designed to allow TCR to be converted to 2 way working. If you've seen the junction you'll note the lack of road markings which I suspect *might* change if north - south flows go 2 way. I suspect there may need to be some tweaks to the light timings at Euston Cross but otherwise it can cope. I expect Gower Street will probably be traffic calmed with the pavements widened to reduce total traffic flow. Whether it goes 2 way I don't know as I suspect Camden Council and TfL will not really want to increase total road capacity in the area preferring to keep most of it on TCR although I expect TfL will insist on full bus lanes in each direction on TCR. I'm old enough t remember in the 1960's the whole TCR/Gower Street one way system was introduced to 'improve traffic flow' if it's now reverting to two way again, does that infer that there's less traffic about now, or is it the Peoples Republic of Camden being anti ICE as most left wing nut cutlets are these days?  |
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Post by snoggle on May 17, 2014 11:14:23 GMT
I understand the recent works at "Euston Cross" were designed to allow TCR to be converted to 2 way working. If you've seen the junction you'll note the lack of road markings which I suspect *might* change if north - south flows go 2 way. I suspect there may need to be some tweaks to the light timings at Euston Cross but otherwise it can cope. I expect Gower Street will probably be traffic calmed with the pavements widened to reduce total traffic flow. Whether it goes 2 way I don't know as I suspect Camden Council and TfL will not really want to increase total road capacity in the area preferring to keep most of it on TCR although I expect TfL will insist on full bus lanes in each direction on TCR. I'm old enough t remember in the 1960's the whole TCR/Gower Street one way system was introduced to 'improve traffic flow' if it's now reverting to two way again, does that infer that there's less traffic about now, or is it the Peoples Republic of Camden being anti ICE as most left wing nut cutlets are these days? A couple of comments - I wouldn't say any London council was full of "left wing nut cutlets" these days. We've moved on a long way from the worst excesses of the 1980s. It is quite clear that traffic levels in the centre of town are lower than before and TCR is in the congestion charge zone. I would point out that Boris has been in charge when most gyratories have been removed or remodelled and more are on the way. Trafalgar Square was Ken's big scheme but it is Boris who's continued the trend. Although this is a Camden scheme it is in line with the Mayor's strategies just as the Piccadilly 2 way scheme, that Westminster City Council did, was. Tottenham Hale is the latest one with Aldgate, Vauxhall and Elephant and Castle to follow. I think there is a bit of a "fashion" in traffic planning to remove gyratories just as there was in the 1960s to create them! My own view is that its not yet clear whether the end result justifies all the expense. I'm certainly not convinced by the T Hale gyratory removal as it seems to have slowed everything down and people still drive down Broad Lane despite the main flow being via different roads! |
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Post by vjaska on May 17, 2014 12:02:16 GMT
I'm old enough t remember in the 1960's the whole TCR/Gower Street one way system was introduced to 'improve traffic flow' if it's now reverting to two way again, does that infer that there's less traffic about now, or is it the Peoples Republic of Camden being anti ICE as most left wing nut cutlets are these days? A couple of comments - I wouldn't say any London council was full of "left wing nut cutlets" these days. We've moved on a long way from the worst excesses of the 1980s. It is quite clear that traffic levels in the centre of town are lower than before and TCR is in the congestion charge zone. I would point out that Boris has been in charge when most gyratories have been removed or remodelled and more are on the way. Trafalgar Square was Ken's big scheme but it is Boris who's continued the trend. Although this is a Camden scheme it is in line with the Mayor's strategies just as the Piccadilly 2 way scheme, that Westminster City Council did, was. Tottenham Hale is the latest one with Aldgate, Vauxhall and Elephant and Castle to follow. I think there is a bit of a "fashion" in traffic planning to remove gyratories just as there was in the 1960s to create them! My own view is that its not yet clear whether the end result justifies all the expense. I'm certainly not convinced by the T Hale gyratory removal as it seems to have slowed everything down and people still drive down Broad Lane despite the main flow being via different roads! The Tulse Hill gyratory system is also apparently set to change too though with £5 million earmarked for improvements, some of which should be implemented by Christmas. EDIT: just found a small summary of the changes for the 17 junctions that will be upgraded: Croydon Fiveways – Major work to reduce traffic congestion in the local area and support growth in Croydon's metropolitan centre Balham High Road (Balham Boulevard) – The Balham Boulevard scheme will provide improvements to support the Balham Boulevard project including better pedestrian and cycling facilities and investment in public realm, including the planting of new trees Brent Cross/Cricklewood – Creation of a new road layouts and public spaces in the area to support new development and improve access to retail, dining and leisure facilities Charlie Brown's Roundabout – Improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, including new signal controlled crossings Euston Road – The creation of better crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, improvements to the local environment and work to support the movement of buses and other road users along Euston Road Lombard Roundabout – Major improvements to the operation of the roundabout and the creation of better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians London Road Roundabout – Improvements to the roundabout, including facilities to make it safer for cyclists travelling through the area Malden Rushett – Wider improvements to the A243 Leatherhead Road junction with Rushett Lane and Fairoak Lane, including a big focus on road safety and installation of new pedestrian crossings Mill Hill Circus – Work to reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability in the area Purley Cross Gyratory – Improvements to the the quality of public realm and better access through the area for bus passengers and other road users Renwick Road (Barking Riverside) – Safer access for road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, to the Barking Riverside development from the A13 Seven Sisters Road – Woodberry Down – Scheme to deliver safe, reliable and accessible road improvements to support new housing development in the local area Stoke Newington Gyratory – an upgrade of the existing road layout to make it safer and more easier accessible for pedestrians and cyclists Thornton Heath Ponds – Focused on improving the quality of public realm around Thornton Heath Pond Trinity Road/Burntwood Lane – Work to reduce congestion and delays at the junction of Trinity Road and Burntwood Lane Tulse Hill Gyratory – Shorter-term scheme to improve road safety ahead of a longer–term scheme to address concerns about the operation of the gyratory Victoria Circus – Improvements to the local area for pedestrian and cyclists to support the major upgrade at Victoria Station. |
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Post by danorak on May 17, 2014 18:21:17 GMT
From what I was told by a transport bod at University College some years ago, there was a much earlier scheme (possibly around the time the Charing Cross Road bus lane was introduced) to introduce a contraflow bus lane along Tottenham Court Road, which was well advanced, but some of the shops objected. I wonder if there will be some sort of residual service along Gower Street or routed through the university area.
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Post by vjaska on May 17, 2014 20:42:35 GMT
From what I was told by a transport bod at University College some years ago, there was a much earlier scheme (possibly around the time the Charing Cross Road bus lane was introduced) to introduce a contraflow bus lane along Tottenham Court Road, which was well advanced, but some of the shops objected. I wonder if there will be some sort of residual service along Gower Street or routed through the university area. Did the shops object due to loss of parking and/or lack of loading/unloading space? |
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Post by snoggle on Jun 3, 2014 13:21:29 GMT
A bit more info and a video on this link. Camden Council are consulting on the proposals from Monday 9 June 2014. Gower St goes 2 way, TCR 2 way for buses and cycles plus changes to Shaftesbury Avenue and the junction near New Oxford St. Looking at a draft presentation on Camden council's website shows a plan to also close St Giles High Street. The bus stands in the area will have to move but to where?? Poses some interesting issues for night buses that have TCR Stn as a terminus. |
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Post by overgroundcommuter on Jun 3, 2014 14:17:15 GMT
Route 176 has it's stand in St. Giles High Street. I wonder post 2018 if this route will be extended back to Oxford Circus or curtailed back to Trafalgar Square?
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Post by snowman on Jun 3, 2014 16:47:48 GMT
And Crossrail has added a section on its website (latest news 3rd June) which shows photo plans (photo mockups) for forecourts of a number of stations including TCR
At least on of the photos has a caption about moving bus stops but as a picture says a 1000 words and there are many stations illustrated not going to attempt to describe here
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Post by danorak on Jun 3, 2014 17:04:01 GMT
From what I was told by a transport bod at University College some years ago, there was a much earlier scheme (possibly around the time the Charing Cross Road bus lane was introduced) to introduce a contraflow bus lane along Tottenham Court Road, which was well advanced, but some of the shops objected. I wonder if there will be some sort of residual service along Gower Street or routed through the university area. Did the shops object due to loss of parking and/or lack of loading/unloading space? Just spotted I hadn't replied to this, sorry! Apparently some of the posher shops (I seem to recall Heals being mentioned) objected to having a bus stop directly outside, not only for reasons of loading/unloading, but because they didn't regard bus users as their clientele. I'm not sure times have really changed that much in other parts of the West End. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 19:36:14 GMT
See a computer generated image on BBC London news showing a LT on route 73  |
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Post by Volvo on Jun 3, 2014 20:08:33 GMT
I am glad, tbh I am tired of one way systems
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Post by Volvo on Jun 3, 2014 21:16:46 GMT
See a computer generated image on BBC London news showing a LT on route 73 You know its going to happen sooner or later, I just wonder where HVs from the route will end up |
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