The role of the WestTrans Partnership is essentially to identify, develop and implement transport schemes, secure funding for those schemes, and contribute advice to the West London Aliance (WLA) leaders and West London Partnership (WLP) relating to the development of an appropriate transport strategy for West London. The Partnership meets every two-months to discuss progress on schemes, to share knowledge and develop good practice, and to identify transport needs and actions.

In its early years as the West London Transport Strategy (WLTS) Partnership, the Partnership’s role included transport strategy development alongside scheme development and implementation. The advent of Transport for London (TfL) in 2000 and the Mayor’s Transport Strategy in 2001 diminished the scope and reach of the WestTrans Partnership for work related to transport strategy development.

In 2005, a fresh look at the need for transport policy development was taken and led to formation of the West London Strategic Transport Group (WLSTG). The group was formed expressly to engage public and private stakeholders on transport matters relating to the sub-region and to give an active voice to transport issues in the subregion. The WLSTG brings together representatives from the WLA boroughs, businesses, the voluntary and community sector, transport operators, the health service and TfL.

Spurred on by the publication of the Major’s Transport 2025 vision for London, in 2006 WestTrans revisited their strategy and refreshed their shared Vision for transport serving West London. As part of this, WLTS was rebranded as WestTrans, and partners have redoubled their efforts to work more efficiently, communicate more effectively and contribute more fully to positive change in London’s transport conditions.

During 2007, through the WLSTG, WestTrans consulted with the public and private sectors in West London to understand their issues and concerns about transport in West London and has come up with a common agenda for action – the Ten Point Plan. This does not contradict TfL views or obstruct their proposals, but provides a complementary, borough-based perspective on appropriate sub-regional action.

WestTrans, with WLSTG, is now working with TfL to undertake a West London Strategic Transport Study. This will take a number of years to complete, developing a new transport model to represent the multi-modal network of transport facilities in West London and the demands placed upon it. It will provide a means of assessing the effectiveness and value for money of policies and schemes to improve transport in West London and will help to create a long-term programme for transport infrastructure improvements. In the short term WestTrans will continue to work with TfL to address more pressing needs, including the agenda set out in the Ten Point Plan.