Section 1 Text

MAYOR OF LONDON

Ranks Action Plan 2015

The Capital’s taxis are iconic, recognisedby Londoners and visitors alike as beingpart of the city’s fabric.

Around 70 million taxi journeys arecompleted every year in London, with morethan one-third of these starting from a taxirank. As well as helping passengers get totheir destination safely, these trips alsocontribute to the Capital’s growing economy.

At Transport for London (TfL), we haveappointed almost 500 taxi ranks in London,meeting demand for taxi services from railwaystations, hotels and night time hot spots,among others. Taxi ranks are particularlyimportant in suburban areas where the vastmajority of work for taxi drivers originatesfrom ranks rather than on-street hails.

Late night taxi ranks also play an importantrole in passenger security by offering safetravel at locations which may be less wellserved by other forms of transport.

TfL is committed to ensuring London’s taxi rank network continues to improve tomeet the evolving needs of passengers andcabbies alike.

The Mayor has made a commitment toimprove taxi ranks across London. This plan isdesigned to achieve just that and sets out thesteps we will take to ensure London’s taxirank network continues to evolve and meetthe needs of passengers and cabbies alike.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director Surface Transport

Foreword

2

The Mayor and TfL want taxi ranks to remainan integral part of the transport network in the Capital. Taxi ranks are located at mostlarge transport hubs including mainline trainstations, and many passengers rely on them to complete their journeys.

Late night taxi ranks make an importantcontribution to the safety of the travellingpublic, reducing the likelihood of touting andof people using ‘bogus cabs’. London has oneof the most accessible taxi fleets in the worldand ranks are particularly important fordisabled passengers as they allow wheelchairsto be loaded safely.

We are responsible for appointing taxi ranks onthe public highway in all of the Capital’sboroughs, apart from the City of London wherethis is done by the City of London Police.

We also work closely with the boroughs, taxi trade associations and other relevantstakeholders, such as Network Rail, hotels,and airports, to try and ensure sufficient taxirank facilities are provided on private land.There are now almost 500 TfL-appointed taxiranks in the Capital, plus a number of others inthe City of London and on private land (seeAppendix). The vast majority of taxi ranks andrequests for new ranks are located on boroughroads and therefore it remains the responsibilityof the relevant local authority to secure theappropriate space and funding. However, they are an important part of the transportnetwork and, together with the Mayor, wewant this to continue.

As well as helping to manage the supply oftaxis at busy locations, ranks also help reducecongestion and vehicle emissions by limitingthe time drivers spend on the road whilewaiting to be hired.

We recognise extra measures are required toprotect existing taxi ranks and accelerate theprovision of new ones, particularly in suburbanareas. This plan outlines a number of specificinitiatives that we will take, in partnership withother stakeholders, to help achieve this.Although the cost for installing a new rankvaries depending on the local considerations,on average appointing a new taxi rank costsbetween £2,000 - £5,000. The activity outlinedin this plan is supported with a dedicatedbudget of £600,000.

Introduction

3Section 1 Introduction

In recent years, we have worked with taxi trade representatives and other stakeholdersto build on the existing rank network andbetter understand specific requirements atimportant locations.

Examples of this progress are highlighted below:

- We have produced a single taxi ranks trackershowing all new rank requests. The list isarranged in order of priority so a dedicatedteam can focus on those that are neededmost urgently

- We attend the monthly London Cab Ranks Committee, which is organised and chaired by representatives of the threemain taxi trade associations, to provideprogress updates

- We have improved communications withthe taxi trade regarding ranks. Regularupdates are issued via email and ourdedicated Twitter feed (@TfLTPH)

- A project to record geocodes of all TfL-appointed taxi ranks started in 2013 and iscontinuing. The information will form partof a database, which is also used to recordbus stop and stand locations, and will beincluded on Legible London maps and onthe ‘Nearby’ function on the TfL website tohelp people find their nearest cab rank

- We fund eight late night marshalled taxirank schemes and have also encouragedlocal boroughs to consider supporting andfunding similar initiatives

- Working with the London Cab RanksCommittee, we are reviewing ranks in centralLondon to identify any that are underusedand could be converted to rest ranks

- As part of the planning for special events,we now look to introduce temporary taxiranks where possible. Examples include WeAre FSTVL (Upminster), the Field DayFestival (Victoria Park) and Calling Festival(Clapham Common). Temporary ranks arealso appointed for the Wimbledon TennisChampionships.

- We have arranged and funded taximarshalling at rail stations during majorevents, or when there has been disruptionto other transport services.

Success to date

4Section 2 Success to date

Although progress has been made in recentyears, we recognise that more needs to bedone to protect London’s existing taxi ranknetwork and secure additional ranks wherethey are needed.

The actions outlined in this section describethe steps we will take in the coming years, aswe work with trade representatives, theboroughs and other important stakeholders to increase the overall number of ranks by 20 per cent by 2020.

1. Taxi ranks review

By 2016, we will complete a comprehensivereview of London’s taxi rank network, toidentify where improvements are required andwhere new ranks are needed, especially at newor upgraded TfL stations. This will include:

- All London areas - Suburban sectors - Infrastructure- Accessibility

2. New ranks and schemes

We will pursue a 20 per cent increase in thenumber of taxi ranks in London by 2020, workingwith the taxi trade to identify priority locations.

- Priority for new taxi ranksThis work will include our ongoingconstructive and high-level engagement with borough highway authorities, includingthrough the London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, to activelypromote the need for and delivery of newtaxi ranks. TfL’s Commissioner will also raise boroughs’ taxi rank progress with themand if necessary write to borough chiefexecutives on individual rank issues. Newrequests will be assessed to determine thebenefit to passengers and drivers, beforebeing prioritised and included on the tracker.

- Protection of rank spaces affected by newschemes and initiativesExisting ranks can occasionally be affectedby new projects, such as changes to roadlayouts, and this can affect the number of

rank spaces. Where possible, we will seek to replace the rank spaces at suitablealternative locations.

- TrackerThe prioritised list of rank requests will be reviewed regularly and published onlineevery year. TfL will introduce a dedicatedranks page on its website for suggestionsfrom drivers and passengers

Actions

5Section 3 Actions

3. Updated policy and guidance

We will review all policy and guidancedocuments in place for taxi ranks inconsultation with the taxi trade by summer2015. This will include:

- Taxi rank design guidanceThe existing guidance for taxi ranks at major interchanges

- Business process review of ranksimplementation As agreed with the Cabbies Cabinet, duringsummer 2015 we will carry out a businessprocess review of the ranks implementationprocess to make it more efficient and speedup the process for delivering new ranks

- Island taxi ranks policyWe will publish a formal policy to set outthe process for designating a taxi rank as anisland rank

- Taxi ranks on the Transport for LondonRoad Network (TLRN) The process for appointing taxi ranks on the TRLN will be reviewed and newguidance published. This will include thepromotion of temporary ranks in TfL TravelDemand Management plans for majorevents and consideration of temporaryranks requirements for events discussed atthe GLA’s Major Events Oversight Board

4. Supporting the night time economy

We will identify opportunities for furthersuitable locations for late-night taxi ranks:

- Night Tube From September 2015, a new 24-hour Tube service will be introduced at weekendson the Jubilee, Victoria, and most of theCentral, Northern and Piccadilly lines. This is likely to generate greater demand for taxis in suburban areas. We havecompleted an initial review of the currenttaxi rank provision at relevant stations and are now working to implement newranks or make changes to existing ranks at priority locations.

- Late-night taxi marshalsBy 2018, we will explore opportunities tosecure sponsorship for late-night taxi ranksand marshals to increase the numbersavailable at key locations and improvepassenger safety.

6Section 3 Actions

5. Enforcement

Due to pressures on road space around key stations rank spaces can be limited atthese locations so it is vital that ranks workeffectively. The smooth operation of a rankcan be affected by taxi drivers leaving theirtaxis unattended, or by private hire vehiclesusing it which is not permitted.

- Targeted enforcement We are completing regular targetedenforcement at taxi ranks where problemsof misuse are reported

- Issues with over-rankingThis causes congestion and results inresistance to new ranks. We will compiletransparent complaints data on over-rankingand target a reduction in the number ofcomplaints received. Enforcement actionwill continue at locations where over-ranking occurs

6. Engagement and support

- Suburban area engagement From summer 2015, we will establish a regular forum to discuss taxi rank issuesthat are specific to suburban drivers

- Electronic communications We will continue to encourage drivers tosign up for email alerts so updates reach a wider audience

- Rank location data We will collate data on existing taxi rank locations and make it available for use on Legible London maps and byexternal app developers

7Section 3 Actions

TfL-appointed ranks in London by area

8Appendix TfL-appointed ranks in London by area

North West

BarnetBrentEalingHarrowHillingdon

South West

HounslowKingston upon ThamesMertonRichmond upon ThamesSutton

South East

BromleyBexleyCroydonGreenwichLewisham

North West

South West South East

North East

Central

North East

Barking & DagenhamEnfieldHaringeyHaveringNewhamRedbridgeWaltham Forest

Central

CamdenCityHackneyHammersmith & FulhamIslingtonKensington & ChelseaLambethSouthwark Tower HamletsWandsworthWestminster

9Appendix TfL ranks in London: Central area

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KeyTaxi Rank (total number of spaces)

1-23-56-1011+

© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100035971. Reproduced by permission of Geographers A-Z Map Co Ltd.This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey. © Crown Copyright (2012) License No. 100017302Strategy and Outcome Planning GIS Team - 2014_0189

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10Appendix TfL ranks in London: North East area

NEKey

Taxi Rank (total number of spaces)

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© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100035971. Reproduced by permission of Geographers A-Z Map Co Ltd.This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey. © Crown Copyright (2012) License No. 100017302Strategy and Outcome Planning GIS Team - 2014_0189

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11Appendix TfL ranks in London: North West area

NW© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100035971. Reproduced by permission of Geographers A-Z Map Co Ltd.This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey. © Crown Copyright (2012) License No. 100017302Strategy and Outcome Planning GIS Team - 2014_0189

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12Appendix TfL ranks in London: South East area

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KeyTaxi Rank (total number of spaces)

1-23-56-1011+

© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100035971. Reproduced by permission of Geographers A-Z Map Co Ltd.This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey. © Crown Copyright (2012) License No. 100017302Strategy and Outcome Planning GIS Team - 2014_0189

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13Appendix TfL ranks in London: South West area

SW

KeyTaxi Rank (total number of spaces)

1-23-56-1011+

© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100035971. Reproduced by permission of Geographers A-Z Map Co Ltd.This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey. © Crown Copyright (2012) License No. 100017302Strategy and Outcome Planning GIS Team - 2014_0189