Plans for a light-rail or tram route running the length of Oxford Street will be examined by a commission overseeing the future of the West End.
The number of buses travelling through Oxford Circus — about 280 an hour at peak times — could then be cut back. Sir Howard Bernstein, who is chairman of the West End Commission set up in the wake of the row over parking charges, said he would consider new forms of transport after the arrival of Crossrail from late 2018.
The cross-capital rail link will reduce the need for arterial bus routes across central London. Launching the commission today, Sir Howard said: “The East-West axis will change and that could create different opportunities for different transport in the West End.
“We should be looking at light-rail and all of those things. We have to have a vision for the future of Oxford Street.”
The idea for a tram along Oxford Street was first mooted by Ken Livingstone but was dropped as it was considered too expensive and disruptive.
Sir Howard, chief executive of Manchester City Council, will be looking at the economy, community safety and public spaces as well as transport.
He pledged to look at parking after Westminster council dropped plans to charge up to £4.80 an hour to park in the West End in the evenings and on Sunday afternoons.
He insisted he would not shy away from the issue, citing his experience in Manchester where he backed a
C-charge. “Let’s be clear, I was the guy who promoted the road pricing debate in Manchester. Pricing is a very strong mechanism for regulating road use behaviour,” he said.
Sir Howard suggested the commission would also look at the economics of home working and the possibility of free wi-fi across the West End.
