If relected mayor Ken Livingstone says he will replace buses with a £200m tram funded by commercial developments
Ken Livingstone has revealed plans to ban traffic from London’s Oxford Street and bring in a £200m shuttle tram.
The project would be funded by two new commercial blocks at the western end of Oxford Street. March Arch would be grassed over and become part of Hyde Park.
Livingstone said buses would be phased out slowly and some would run along Wigmore Street, while black cabs would be limited to adjoining streets either side of Oxford street.
Work would being after the 2012 Olympics and be completed by 2018.
Speaking at a debate held by property developers and attended by other mayoral candidates Brian Paddick and Siân Berry, Livingstone said: “If re-elected I intend to start installing a tram running the length of Oxford Street.
“There are some factors which pose difficulties but we have thought about it and there are ways of overcoming them. It will either by a shuttle tram or will be linked to the cross-river tram.”
Livingstone had previously proposed a similar scheme but it was opposed. Oxford Street is used by some of London’s busiest bus routes.
