TfL tasks innovators with solving London’s £2bn-a-year roadworks problem

Transport for London (TfL) has struck a new partnership with innovation centre Plexal to minimise the impact of roadworks on the city.

TfL and Plexal, based at the Here East tech campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will deliver a 10-week programme aimed at finding new solutions for London’s busiest streets.

Participating innovators will receive funds and expert advice to scale their products or services at pilot sites, potentially addressing some of the city’s most pressing roadwork challenges.

At the end of the programme, called London RoadLab, participants will pitch ideas to TfL and its partners, and be considered for contracts.

Applicants are asked to focus on new, previously untested solutions that address three key challenge areas: Inclusive, meaning streets must be accessible to all Londoners; Safer, minimising health and safety risks for workers and the public; and Smarter, tapping into the potential of untried smart technology.

According to TfL, disruption on the roads costs the economy £2bn per year.

The programme will be facilitated by Plexal’s innovation team with support from partners at TfL, London councils and utilities firms. It is in line with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which aims to reduce pollution and congestion while encouraging more active travel.

Plexal’s chief innovation officer, Tony Markovski, said: “Improving London’s roads is vital to the overall success of the city, so working with TfL on this ambitious project is an exciting opportunity for Plexal.

“With London RoadLab, TfL is taking a bold approach by trying something new and co-creating solutions with the market.”

Tony continued: “I hope this becomes a new model for public sector procurement where the innovation community is brought into the process early on. We’re looking forward to bringing together the best minds to scale ideas that deliver genuine innovation for London.”

Michael Hurwitz, director of transport innovation at TfL, commented: “We are excited to be bringing together a unique collection of partners from the utilities to collectively seek new ideas and products that will help us to make roadworks smarter, safer and more inclusive.

“Working with Plexal, our first ever innovation partnerships programme will target an even wider range of innovative companies, supporting the ambitions of the Mayor and his Chief Digital Officer to make London the smartest city in the world.”

Applications for the programme are now open and close at midday on November 26, after which a multi-stage selection process will take place.

Successful applicants will embark on the programme in early 2019.