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• Reference: 2024/0928
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 15 March 2024

Re my question 2024/0526: You say TfL's sensitivity testing covered different values of time - but the 2018 MTS did not change the value of time - what it did do - at least if the targets within it for motor traffic reduction were hit - should have been to make very significant changes to forecasts for traffic and congestion - which in turn changes the amount of time potentially saved by any scheme that is claimed to reduce congestion. i) Why did you not re-evaluate the scheme according to these revised traffic forecasts prior to signing the contract? ii)...

• Reference: 2024/0929
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 15 March 2024

Re my question: 2024/0523 - You claim that the Silvertown Tunnel will enable you to 'greatly increase public transport usage in east and southeast london'. Why then have you reduced the promised bus service through Silvertown by more than half from 31.5 buses/hour to 14 buses/hour - just 2 new bus routes? Given the alignment of the tunnel, which does not follow existing desire lines, and the failure to engineer bus priority on approach roads to make journey times more competitive with other modes, where do you expect future demand to come from?

• Reference: 2024/0930
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 15 March 2024

Re my question 2024/0527: You state: 'The Silvertown Tunnel scheme, including the user charge and new zero emission bus network, has been designed to ensure that there is no material impact in the number of vehicle trips across the river.' Can you please confirm that this is in fact incorrect, and that opening the Silvertown Tunnel, whether or not it is tolled, and whether or not zero emission buses are used, always substantially increases cross-river traffic, and local pollution, and carbon emissions, compared to an otherwise identical situation in which Silvertown is not opened to general traffic?

• Reference: 2024/0925
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 15 March 2024

The proposed toll on Blackwall and opening the Silvertown Tunnel to general traffic (with or without a toll) are two separate schemes that can be implemented either independently or together. Given the urgency of action on climate and air pollution it is therefore vital for us to understand how each scheme contributes independently to air pollution and climate targets, as well as how they might work together i) Can you provide (in tonnes/year) the reduction in CO2 emissions and PM and NOX pollution that will be achieved by tolling the Blackwall tunnel to effectively relieve regular congestion on the tunnel...

• Reference: 2024/0927
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 15 March 2024

Re my question: 2024/0525: The proposed toll on Blackwall and opening the Silvertown Tunnel to general traffic (with or without a toll) are two separate schemes that can be implemented either independently or together - and, given the legal structure of the project, future London Mayors will have a choice of whether to implement either or both. It is therefore important to understand the disaggregated economic consequences of these choices. Can you therefore use the same methodology you have used to calculate the benefits of both schemes together to also calculate: i) The economic benefit of just tolling Blackwall to...

• Reference: 2024/0519
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 22 February 2024

You have consulted on plans to use a shuttle bus to ferry cyclists through the Silvertown Tunnel. What would be the maximum capacity of this proposed service, in cyclists per hour? Would the service be able to carry cargo bikes? What would be the expected subsidy per cycle trip to run this service, assuming crossing was free?

• Reference: 2024/0520
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 22 February 2024

Can you confirm that future availability payments for the Silvertown Tunnel will be made directly out of TfL general funds, and are independent of any income from tolls on Silvertown or Blackwall? Can you also let me know the percentage of TfL income that currently comes from fare-payers, and the percentage of income that comes from drivers, and how those percentages will change if/when Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels are tolled?

• Reference: 2024/0521
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 22 February 2024

One of your justifications for building the Silvertown Tunnel is that it will provide an alternative if Blackwall northbound is blocked. However, TfL's charging policy rejects the option of using Silvertown as a charged alternative for when Blackwall is congested, because congestion at Blackwall northbound rapidly backs up past the exit to Silvertown. In your modelling, at peak hours, how long does it take for the queue from a blockage at Blackwall to extend past the exit slip to Silvertown?

• Reference: 2024/0522
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 22 February 2024

You have claimed that the Silvertown Tunnel and the proposed new toll on Blackwall, when implemented together, will bring an overall improvement in air quality. Can you quantify this improvement, in tons of NOX and tons of PM per year?

• Reference: 2024/0523
• Question by: Hina Bokhari
• Meeting date: 22 February 2024

Your 'carbon and energy statement' for the Silvertown Tunnel states that this scheme, which will cost Londoners over £2bn over 25 years, will lead to a long-term increase in CO2 emissions, even if the Blackwall Tunnel is tolled as planned, and the effects of that tolling are included in scheme emissions. How does spending £2bn on this scheme support your climate policies and targets?