West London Tram a step closer
Decision time looms for tram
Details of traffic diversion to be announced soon
Decision day on the routing of the Uxbridge Road tram is drawing close. According to pressure group Save Ealing's Street, Transport for London are close to finalising their revised proposals. The final routing of the scheme may be decided in the coming month or so.
A spokesperson for the group said, "In some areas the new proposals are a significant advance and the threat of traffic being diverted onto residential streets has receded; in other areas concerns remain."
A wide range of alternatives to road closure was discussed in the local consultation groups over the summer, ranging from single track tram lines to property demolition to routing the tram away from the Uxbridge Road at the pinch points. The revised proposals are those that TfL think are the most feasible.
In Acton it not been possible to avoid road closures. Acton High Street will be closed in both directions between Steyne Rd and Market Place. At this state it is not clear where traffic is to be rerouted, but possibilities cited are that eastbound traffic would travel up Steyne Road and then either up to Horn Lane and onto A40, or back to Uxbridge Road via Market Place with westbound to be routed via Crown Lane.
There is better news in Shepherds Bush where it is no longer planned to close the Uxbridge Road near the bridge by Shepherd's Bush station which would have diverted traffic down Lime Grove. However, there are currently no details of how traffic would be routed around Shepherd's Bush.
SES are meeting Transport for London in early January to talk though these proposals in detail and will be keeping the public posted on the results of the discussion. At this stage the are asking people to assume the tram will go ahead and come forward with suggestions and comments on how to deal with the issue of pinch points as opposed to revisiting the issue of whether the tram is a good thing in principal. You can contact SES through their web site.
TfL estimates the tram system will carry 50 million passengers a year, bring significant environmental benefits, encourage regeneration in the area and provide Londoners with better access to jobs. It is anticipated the scheme will be completed by 2011.
December 27, 2003
