A Very Big ExperimentA Very Big ExperimentCongestion Charging in Congestion Charging in

LondonLondon

Peter Jones

Transport Studies Group

University of Westminster

• Policy context• Expected benefits• Operation on the scheme• Transport investment packages• Monitoring Impacts• Proposals for Edinburgh

London’s congestion problemLondon’s congestion problem

• Central London suffers the worst congestion in the UK– vehicles typically spend half their time in

queues• Traffic is travelling as fast as horses and carts

were in the 19th century• Traffic delays are increasing, costing people

and businesses both time and money

The Mayor’s Transport The Mayor’s Transport Strategy for LondonStrategy for London

• A key priority: Reducing traffic congestion• Strategy seeks to address this by:

– Significant improvements in public transport, particularly buses

– Better enforcement of traffic/parking regulations– Introduction of congestion charging in central

London

What Charging should What Charging should achieve - the key benefits (1)achieve - the key benefits (1)

• Reduce the amount of traffic by 10-15%

• In turn, this would cut traffic delays by 20-30%

• Less traffic inside and outside the central zone

• Help bus operations

• Produce substantial net revenues for spending on transport in Greater London

What Charging should What Charging should achieve - the key benefits (2)achieve - the key benefits (2)• Each week charging not in place, London loses more

than £2m of traffic benefits and £2.5m of net revenues

• Congestion charging will generate net revenues of at least £130 million per year (excluding PCNs)

• Congestion charging will pay for itself in 18 months

Paying the ChargePaying the Charge

• Daily, weekly, monthly or annual payment,for individual vehicle registration number

• Flat charge of £5 per day (Monday - Friday 7am-6.30pm) for all vehicles

• Payment by post, telephone, retail, internet • Payment available up until midnight, but charge rises

to £10 after 10pm

T 123 CBI

EnforcementEnforcement

• Vehicle registration numbers observed by fixed and mobile cameras and compared with payment database

• Cameras linked to automatic number plate recognition technology

• If no record of payment, penalty charge notice (£80/£40) sent to registered keeper of vehicle

• Vehicles of persistent evaders will be clamped/removed

Camera enforcementCamera enforcement

Colour Contextual ImageColour Contextual Image

Monochrome Image from ANPR cameraMonochrome Image from ANPR camera

ANPR system outputANPR system output

Evidential Record SummaryEvidential Record Summary

Number Plate image from ANPRcamera, Lane 1

Number Plate image from ANPRcamera, Lane 1

Exemptions and DiscountsExemptions and Discounts

• Motorbikes/mopeds• Military vehicles• Emergency services• Black Cabs and licensed

minicabs• Disabled persons• Buses, coaches and

minibuses• Certain alternative fuel

vehicles

• Breakdown & recovery vehicles

• NHS staff on-call and certain patients

• Firefighters moving between stations

• 90% discount for residents of zone

Traffic management• Management of diversion routes, especially the Inner Ring

Road, to cope with diverted traffic

• Management of displaced traffic to protect unsuitable routes and locations

• Better management of on-street parking

• Traffic signing to direct drivers who wish to avoid the charging zone & inform them of charging boundary

• More effective enforcement of parking & loading

• More effective coordination of streetworks

Special emphasis on buses• Substantial improvements to quality of bus operations and

bus priority - busPlus

• Expansion of network to provide additional bus capacity on radial and orbital routes

• New 24-hour services and better connections at suburban interchanges

• Fares freeze

• More conductors and better management of bus operations

• Better information & security

• But, some improvements on Underground and National Rail as well

Investing the revenue Investing the revenue – early years – early years

• Bus network improvements• Accelerating/extending accessibility improvements• Interchange improvements• Safety and security improvements• Accelerating road and bridge maintenance• Increasing late night public transport• Better facilities for pedestrians/cyclists• Additional funding for Borough initiatives

Investing the revenue Investing the revenue – long term– long term

• Expanded Underground and rail capacity with new services across central London and improved orbital rail services

• New Thames Gateway river crossings

• Improved access to London’s town centres

• Tram or segregated bus schemes

• Selected improvements to London’s road system

Monitoring the impactsMonitoring the impacts

• Comprehensive monitoring programme

• Traffic patterns and traffic conditions

• Transport operations and passenger levels

• Social impacts, including vulnerable groups

• Business and economic effects

• Environmental impacts, particularly air quality

• Case studies

• Results published every year

Phase I: No New ChargesWorkplace Parking

ChargesCongestion Charging

Charging Basis Days of Operation

Phase II:

Are aLicense

Per EntryCordon

Charging

Entry Permit(Per-Day)

Cordon Charging

Monday toFriday

Monday toSaturday

EveryDay

Single Cordon Double Cordon No Charges

Phase III: £1, £2, £3 AM Peak, Morning, All Day Investment Packages

£1, £2, £3 AM Peak, Morning, All Day Investment Packages

Limited InvestmentPackages

Single Cordon Double Cordon No Charges

Phase IV: £2 daily charge7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

City based improvements

£2 daily charge7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Regionwide improvementsLimited Investment Package

Edinburgh Cordon ProposalsEdinburgh Cordon Proposals

Consultation - Edinburgh Residents - Level of Support for Option A

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

unweighted HHcar weight

support neither support nor oppose / don't know oppose no response

Consultation - People Responding on Behalf of an Organisation Only (N=266)- Level of Support for Option A

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Edinburgh based organisations Non-Edinburgh based organisations

support neither support nor oppose / don't know oppose no response

Consultation - Edinburgh Residents - Overall Levels of Support and Opposition to Charging Options

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

unweighted HHcar weight

Support A &/or B: Oppose A & B: Other: