Greater London Authority Act 1999

Traffic control systems

275 Transfer of London Traffic Control System to Transport for London

(1) So far as relating to—

(a) GLA roads, and

(b) roads in Greater London which are neither GLA roads nor trunk roads,

the functions transferred to the Secretary of State by orders under paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985 are transferred to Transport for London by this subsection.

(2) The functions referred to in subsection (1) above are the functions conferred by sections 65, 73, 74 and 75 of the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in respect of traffic signs which are traffic light signals controlling the movement of any class of road traffic (including pedestrians).

(3) Any expenses reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Transport for London in the exercise, in relation to roads which are not GLA roads, of the functions transferred by this section may be recovered by Transport for London from the London borough councils and the Common Council in such proportions as may be agreed between Transport for London and those authorities or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by Transport for London.

(4) Any reference in this section to a GLA road includes a reference to a GLA side road.

276 London borough councils and the London traffic control system

After section 74 of the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 there shall be inserted—

“74A London borough councils and the London traffic control system

(1) If a London borough council requests Transport for London to provide any new traffic light installations for a road in Greater London which is neither a GLA road nor a trunk road, Transport for London shall approve and carry out the work unless it considers that there are reasonable grounds for refusing to do so.

(2) If Transport for London and a London borough council so agree, Transport for London may make a scheme transferring to the council—

(a) any part of the London traffic control system, and

(b) the power to maintain and operate that part of the system.

(3) The council for a London borough may, with the approval of Transport for London, buy, own, maintain and operate new traffic light installations for any road in the borough other than a trunk road.

(4) Where the powers conferred by subsection (2) or (3) above are exercised, the London borough council concerned shall, as respects the traffic signs comprised in—

(a) the part of the London traffic control system transferred by the scheme under subsection (2) above, or

(b) the traffic light installations referred to in subsection (3) above,

be treated (to the exclusion of Transport for London) as the traffic authority for all roads in Greater London (other than trunk roads) on or near which those traffic signs are placed.

(5) Any exercise of the powers conferred by subsections (1) to (3) above is subject to the agreement of financial arrangements between Transport for London and the council concerned.

(6) Before Transport for London—

(a) changes the operating cycle, or the timing of the operating cycle, of any traffic light installations provided on a road in Greater London which is neither a GLA road nor a trunk road, or

(b) provides new traffic light installations for such a road,

Transport for London shall consult the council of the London borough in which the installations are or are to be provided.

(7) In this section—

• “the London traffic control system” means the traffic control system which Transport for London has power to operate by virtue of the functions transferred to it—

  (a)

  by section 275 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999; or

  (b)

  by a scheme under subsection (1) or (3) of section 74B of this Act transferring functions of the Secretary of State to Transport for London;

• “traffic control system” means a system for controlling the movement of vehicular traffic or of pedestrians by means of traffic light installations;

• “traffic light installations” means—

  (a)

  traffic signs which are light signals for controlling the movement of vehicular traffic or of pedestrians; or

  (b)

  any installations or apparatus used in connection with the operation of any such traffic signs.

(8) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the City of London shall be treated as if it were a London borough;

(b) the Common Council shall be treated as if it were the council for a London borough; and

(c) the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple shall be treated as forming part of the City.”

277 Transfer of traffic control systems between Secretary of State and Transport for London

After section 74A of the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 there shall be inserted—

“74B Transfer of traffic control systems between Secretary of State and Transport for London

(1) If the Secretary of State and Transport for London so agree, the Secretary of State may make a scheme transferring to Transport for London—

(a) the traffic control system for a trunk road in Greater London; and

(b) the power to maintain and operate that system.

(2) If Transport for London and the Secretary of State so agree, Transport for London may make a scheme transferring to the Secretary of State—

(a) the London traffic control system; and

(b) the power to maintain and operate that system.

(3) If, in a case where a traffic control system has been transferred under this section, the transferee and the transferor so agree, the transferee may make a scheme transferring back to the transferor the system and the power to maintain and operate it.

(4) A scheme under subsection (1), (2) or (3) above may make provision for the transferee to be treated (to the exclusion of the transferor), as respects the traffic signs comprised in the traffic control system transferred, as the traffic authority for specified roads in Greater London on or near which those traffic signs are placed.

(5) Any exercise of the powers conferred by subsections (1) to (3) above is subject to the agreement of financial arrangements between the Secretary of State and Transport for London.

(6) Any reference in this section to a traffic control system includes a reference to part of a traffic control system.

(7) Expressions used in this section and in section 74A above have the same meaning in this section as they have in that section.”

278 Traffic authority for certain traffic signs in Greater London

After section 74B of the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 there shall be inserted—

“74C The traffic authority for traffic signs

(1) This section has effect for the purposes of sections 65, 73, 74, 74A, 74B and 75 of this Act.

(2) In the application of those provisions to traffic signs in Greater London which are light signals for controlling the movement of vehicular traffic or of pedestrians, Transport for London shall at all times be deemed to be the traffic authority for all roads in Greater London other than trunk roads.

(3) Without prejudice to the powers of the traffic authority for the road in question, Transport for London shall also be deemed to be the traffic authority for any road in Greater London for which they are not in fact the traffic authority for the purposes of the exercise by them as respects that road under section 73(1A) above of any powers exercisable by the traffic authority for that road.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) above are subject to any provision to the contrary made by or under section 74A or 74B of this Act.”