TfL launches ‘London on the move’ strategy

Bus priority and lane rentals will be key to cutting traffic congestion

Transport for London (TfL) has announced its first pan-city roadworks plan. ‘London on the move’ will focus on using innovation to deliver safer, healthier, and more efficient journeys for millions of Londoners. 

TfL’s 2030 vision is for a better, safer street network that prioritises sustainable transport and reduces congestion. There will be a particular focus on improving the capital’s bus network.

TfL works with London’s boroughs to manage a road networks that includes 6,400 automated traffic signal junctions and pedestrian crossings. 

The plan will see TfL the roll-out of systems and infrastructure upgrades designed to optimise traffic flow, improve safety and support sustainable travel.

TfL will also be expanding its lane rental scheme from ‘red routes’ to borough roads. The scheme charges utility companies and others a fee to dig up the busiest roads at the busiest times, reducing congestion and providing funds for innovative new ways to reduce delays on the roads. TfL said lane rental has been proven to reduce congestion, improve journeys and enhance air quality. 

TfL will be working with London’s councils to expand the lane rental scheme and its associated benefits onto borough roads. As of January 2026, four boroughs have already received approval for schemes by the Department for Transport. These are Camden, Enfield, Lambeth and Merton, with a further 22 boroughs progressing towards making applications.

The government is also in the process of devolving authority to the Mayor to approve lane rental schemes, which will allow for more schemes to come forward with consistency across London.

Key measures that TfL has committed to as part of the plan include:

• Improvements to London's FUSION traffic control system will allow TfL to use more data and greater computing power to ensure that traffic signals can react faster and smarter, avoiding congestion and helping people to move around the city better than ever. The system will be updated to analyse a broader range of data when making decisions about signal timings and can be upgraded in future to take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) sensors. The changes could reduce delays by up to 14% and deliver £1 billion in benefits through reduced journey times.
• TfL is expanding the use of Vivacity cameras across London to better understand how people and vehicles move through the city. Unlike traditional monitoring systems, Vivacity technology uses AI to distinguish between different modes of travel including walking, cycling, wheelchair use, taxis, and heavy goods vehicles. This will provide more inclusive data and will support smarter decisions around things such as pedestrian crossing times. TfL is working closely with boroughs on a data-sharing agreement, which will give access to insights from over 1,000 cameras.
• Accelerating bus priority measures to improve bus speeds for millions of customers. A total of 2,080 traffic signals are now equipped with bus priority technology. Utilising new technology, TfL has plans to expand this to all 3,500 signals which buses pass through by 2030.
• Carrying out signal timing reviews of entire bus routes instead of specific areas for the first time.
• Expanding the use of BusSense, a partnership with boroughs that reduces the impact of high-impact roadworks on bus routes through better coordination. Early results showed a 3.5% improvement in bus journey times where it has been deployed. TfL is planning to partner with all boroughs by this autumn
• Working with the boroughs to roll-out vital infrastructure to tackle road danger across London and trialling the use of new technology to reduce road danger, such as near miss detection cameras.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Congestion is annoying for everyone, and it costs our economy millions of pounds a year. This innovative new strategy will tackle the causes of congestion head on. This bold new approach to managing the capital’s streets will ensure they work for everyone: harnessing cutting-edge technology and infrastructure to reduce congestion, keep Londoners safe, and speed up journey times on London’s bus network.”

Carl Eddleston, TfL’s director of Streets and Network Operations, said: "We’re determined to ensure London’s road network is amongst the best in the world and the new London on the move plan marks a major step forward in how we manage London’s streets. By harnessing data, technology and the benefits of new infrastructure, our 2030 vision will see a better, safer street network that is better suited to the needs of Londoners today and tomorrow.”