On 18 Jan 2006 01:58:13 -0800, "Bob"
wrote:

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/local...682621,00.html

The Guardian article indicates that local government reform may be on
the way in the form of City Regions. It sounds like deja vu all over
again for Greater Manchester although local politicians have
reservations about a directly elected mayor like London's "Red Ken" -
although the colour seems to have faded.Whilst not going along with
many of his views I have always been impressed with the way he has
through, Transport for London, been an innovative force - driving
forward the Docklands Light Railway,the East London Line extension, the
congestion charge ( particularly putting the surpluses back into
transport infrastructure.) and a sensible system for regulating the
buses. Outside of London the eight major city regions are generally
groaning with congestion on a crumbly infrastructure so perhaps relief
might be in sight.
But now I wonder - is there a catch?

There are two catches really.

One is money which others have mentioned. Ken is astute enough to know
he had a one off chance to get cash and thus to spend it. He did that
with buses, won the Mayoral election for Labour and then got more cash
which he is slinging at the Tube and DLR as fast as he can before the
taps get turned off. He has to get the contracts and deals in place ASAP
so that a successor cannot stop the projects. The biggest deal that he
probably won't get is Crossrail despite the changes made to try to
maximise private sector investment in return for serving as much as
Docklands and the City as they justify. Still I won't be upset if we
get the ELLX and the various DLR expansion schemes. I'd like to see
Thameslink sorted too but I think that's a project too far for the
Mayor.

The second (related) issue is politics. Transport is so crucial to
London and thus votes in London that it is politically sensible for
money to be thrown at London by the Labour Government via the Mayor. It
is obvious that no such political sensitivity applies in many of the Met
County areas given Mr Darling's trashing of various tram schemes, his
reluctance to boost bus spending to anything like London levels and the
lack of care being devoted to National Rail franchises and PTE
involvement in such. I would expect a Tory London Mayor to have to
have to crawl on his or her hands and knees to a Labour Chancellor for
funding for TfL. The same would apply if we had a Labour Mayor and a
Tory Chancellor.

We live in fortunate times for London but I think this is a once in
30-40 year chance so we need to make the most of it. I do feel sorry
for the rest of the country because there is so much that needs doing
but then no government of any colour has ever had a proper transport
policy or bothered to deliver the one they say that had in their
manifestos.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!