WIREDGOV

Transport for London yesterday published the results of a public consultation on route options for the proposed Cross River Tram. The consultation sought the views of local residents and businesses on various options for the proposed 16.5 km route.

Independent researchers IPSOS MORI carried out the consultation and over 5,000 people and organisations responded to give their views. 

The results show strong support for the tram. Positive responses were received from all the borough councils that the tram would pass through: Camden, Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark.

A decision on the preferred route will follow a technical review and assessment of whether funding will be available. The review and further feasibility work will look at potential passenger numbers, improvements in journey times, a review of depot and staged implementation options, traffic and environmental impacts and the views on route options expressed by the public and stakeholders.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London said: "The Cross River Tram would provide an important public transport link to provide a fast and reliable transport link from rapidly developing residential areas such as Elephant & Castle and King's Cross, to around one million jobs in central London."

Luke Albanese, Project Director for Cross River Tram said:
"This report will help us to develop our proposals. A decision on a recommended preferred route will follow a technical assessment of all the different options."

ENDS
Note to editors
The proposed Cross River Tram will be a high quality public transport link, running on-street between Euston and Waterloo, with branches to Camden Town and King's Cross in the north, and Brixton and Peckham in the south. 

The public consultation into route options for Cross River Tram ran from November 2006 to February 2007.  The report on the consultation, undertaken by IPSOS MORI, is available on Transport for London's website at: www.tfl.gov.uk/trams

The report presents the results of the public consultation on route options for the Cross River Tram.  Cross River Tram is a large scheme, with a long route that covers four boroughs so the route was divided into five sections to facilitate ease of comment during the public consultation.

Section 1:      Euston - Waterloo:                      one route alignment

Section 2:      Euston - King's Cross:          two route options

Section 3:      Euston - Camden Town:           two route options

Section 4:      Waterloo - Oval/Brixton:
                Waterloo - Oval:                        two route options
                Oval - Brixton:                 two route options
                Brixton town centre:                    two route options

Section 5:      Waterloo - Peckham:
                Waterloo - Peckham:             two route options
                Peckham town centre:            two route options
                Peckham town centre terminus:   two route options

Consultation Results
Section 1:      Euston to Waterloo (no route choice)
                77% of respondents gave positive views and
                11% voiced negative opinions about this route choice
                12% of respondents expressed spontaneous support for a tram on this route.
                3% of respondents were of the view that the Cross River Tram is not necessary

Section 2:      Euston to King's Cross
                Route 1 - via Mornington Crescent and Crowndale Road
                Route 2 - via Somerstown
                55% support Option 2
                35% prefer route option 1
                9% have no preference at all and 1% gave both routes as equal preference

Section 3:      Euston to Camden Town
                Option 1 - both northbound and southbound trams running along Camden High Street
                Option 2 - northbound trams running along Camden High Street, southbound trams running along Bayham Street

                65% prefer Option 1
                25% prefer route option 2
                10% had no preference

Section 4:      Waterloo to Oval/Brixton
                Waterloo – Oval
                Option 1 - via Waterloo Road, Elephant & Castle and Kennington Park Road
                Option 2 - via Kennington Road
                52% prefer route option 1
                36% prefer option 2.
                11% expressed no preference and 1% gave both routes equal       first choice.

                Oval - Brixton
                Option 1 - via Clapham Road and Stockwell Road
                Option 2 - via Brixton Road
                47% prefer route option 2
                34% prefer option 1
                18% have no route preference and 1% gave both options as equal first choice.

                Brixton town centre
                Option 1 - via Brixton Road and Effra Road, looping around St Michael's Church onto Brixton Hill
                Option 2 - via Canterbury Crescent to terminate in Pope's Road
                53% preferred Option 1.
                27% of respondents have no preference on the route chosen
                19% of respondents support Option 2.

Section 5:      Waterloo to Peckham
                Waterloo - Peckham
                Option 1 - via Burgess Park and Chandler Way
                Option 2 - via Wells Way and Southampton Way
                51%, 1,265 prefer route option 1
                37% of respondents prefer route option 
                11% have no preference on this section of the route

                Peckham town centre
                Option 1 - via Peckham Square
                Option 2 - via Peckham Hill Street
        ·       51% prefer route option 2
        ·       26% prefer the choice of route option 1
        ·       22% respondents have no preference

                Peckham town centre terminus
                Option 1 - via Clayton Road and terminating opposite Peckham Rye rail station
                Option 2 - via Cerise Road and terminating close to the cinema
        ·       44% of respondents prefer route option 2
        ·       32% prefer option 1
        ·       23% have no preference

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