Central LondonCongestion Charging Scheme

Congestion Charging in London

21 April 2006

Central LondonCongestion Charging Scheme

Congestion Charging in London

21 April 2006

Michèle Dix

Director, Congestion Charging Division

Michèle Dix

Director, Congestion Charging Division

Contents

1. The Central London Scheme

2. Its impacts

3. Would it be suitable elsewhere?

Where is the Congestion Charging zone?

Central London only

The Central London Scheme

• 40% of England’s congestion is in London

• Central London was the most congested area with average all day speeds of less than 9mph

• Despite 85% public transport usage, vehicular traffic was still a major problem in Central London

• The congestion persisted throughout the day –it was not a ‘peak’ commuter problem

• To tackle this and using the most reliable technology available at the time, an area charging scheme covering the whole working day was developed

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

Camera enforcement

T 123 ABC

Charge payment

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

• Flat charge of £8 per day (was £5 up to 4 July 2005)

• Monday - Friday 7am - 6.30pm

• Payment available up until midnight, but charge rises to £10 after 10pm

29%

29%

22%

14%

5% <1%

Total payment 106,000 / day78,000 @ £816,000 Residents @ £0.8012,000 Fleet Accounts @ £7

Payment channels

Retail Outlets

Internet

Mobile Phone Text

Call Centre

Call Centre IVR

Post

Impacts of the Scheme

• Results are all for the £5 Charge

• The impacts of the £8 charge (which started on July 4th 2005) are being monitored

• Initial findings are that traffic levels & charges/payments are in line with our forecasts – early monitoring was affected by the London bombings

Impacts (with £5 charge)

• Congestion in charging zone down 30%

• Traffic entering charging zone reduced by 18% - with cars down 33%

• Bus patronage up, reliability and journey time improved

• Little or no change in number of trips to central area - 50 – 60% moved to public transport, 20 – 30% divert round zone, 15 – 25% other adaptations

• Net revenues £100m per year

Total traffic entering the charging zoneDuring charging hours

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

Cars Vans Lorriesand

Others

Taxis Busesand

Coach

MotorCycles

PedalCycles

Feb / Mar 2002

Spring 2002

Autumn 2002

Jan 2003

Feb / Mar 2003

Spring 2003

Autumn 2003

Spring 2004

Autumn 2004

Before Charge With Charge

Business impacts

• Broadly neutral impact on overall business performance in the charging zone – no overall impact on employment, number of businesses, turnover, commercial rents or profitability.

• Professional services benefiting from improved mobility

• Retail sales declined around late 2002 and recovered by Autumn 2003. Growth slowing now but reflect wider economic factors, as charging has been a consistent factor since February 2003. However Retail sector remains concerned

46%

10%

10%

15%

12%

3% 4%

Influences on business performance

Economic factors

Tourism factors

Company factors

Seasonal factors

Congestion charge

Central Line

Other

Source: TfL Telephone Business Survey, Autumn 2003

Environmental Impacts

Reduced emissions in the zone:

• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) down 16% - 12 % due to CC, rest due to engine improvements

• Particulate matter (PM10) down 16% - 12% due to CC, rest due to engine improvements

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) down 19%

Support for the scheme

• Prior to the introduction of the London congestion charge public opinion was equivocal

• After introduction, public opinion shifted decisively in favour of the scheme, with opposition levels falling

Support

Neither

Oppose

02

40

19

40

03 Pre-CC

38

16

43

39

18

41

03 Post-CC

57

16

27

50

18

31

59

15

24

48

21

28

04

54

18

27

Would the Central London Scheme be suitable elsewhere

• Is this type of scheme suitable elsewhere in London and in other cities?

• Does one size fit all?

• Are the problems in central London the same elsewhere? Is the congestion as persistent or the traffic mix the same?

• Would a different way of charging be more appropriate

• With new technology now available could more flexible schemes be developed?

• TfL has faced some of these issues itself in developing congestion charging further within London

Developments

We have examined:• Other areas where congestion is currently a

problem and which will get worse with increasing travel demands

• New technologies to improve the way in which we charge; not only in the existing area, but for application elsewhere

• Worked with the DfT in looking at the possibilities for a national distance-based charging scheme using satellite tracking technology

Existing traffic congestion• The main road network runs at capacity in specific locations

at specific time

• In particular congestion is seen along strategic routes and in outer London town centres

Saturday pm off peak IT IS graphWeekday am peak IT IS graphOctober 2003 Delay - AM Peak (Working days only - Mon to Fri)

Road Network Performance and Research

Information derived from data provided by ITIS Holdingsobtained from vehicles fittedwith GPS devices

Note: - Network shown is ITISlinks on Network of Interest.- AM Peak is 7am to 10am.- Delay measurement is peakspeed compared to night speed (10pm to 6am - free flow) in mins/km- Links with 2 or more observations are shown- Both directions are shown

October 2003 Delay - PM Off Peak (Saturdays)

Road Network Performance and Research

Information derived from data provided by ITIS Holdingsobtained from vehicles fittedwith GPS devices

Note: - Network shown is ITISlinks on Network of Interest.- PM Off Peak is 2pm to 4pm.- Delay measurement is peakspeed compared to night speed (10pm to 6am - free flow) in mins/km- All links with one or more observations are included- Both directions are shown

Future transport trends1993-2025 Future Transport Trends

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

11.00

12.00

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025

Mai

n M

od

e T

rip

s P

er D

ay -

Mill

ion

s

Notes: •Includes planned schemes and major infrastructure projects i.e. CTRL, CrossRail, River Crossings, and Intermediate Transit Schemes, plus Congestion Charging Western Extension.•Shows the projected increase in public transport if car trips remain at current levels. Shows the projected increase in car trips taking into account population growth and car ownership/household at current levels. Work is ongoing to further validate and understand recent and projected trend in car trips.

Possible Impact of policies to limit car trips

Projected increase in public transport trips

10.8m

7.6m

Projected increase in car trips

Western Extension

Potential Benefits of Wider Road User Charging in London

• Distance based charging (2005 prices, values and deterrents), weekdays only• All motor vehicles charged except buses, coaches and taxis

Area Charges Changes in traffic flow

Base congestion mins/km

Change in congestion

Central 60p/km

Working day

-18% 2.3 -32%

Inner 30p/km

Working day

-20% 1.0 -40%

Outer 15p/km

Peaks only

-17% 0.7 -40%

… this would facilitate economic growth and the London Plan

Technologies for Road user Charging

London trials of alternative road user charging technologies have shown:

• Improved cameras plus ANPR effective solution available now for simple charging schemes.

• Tag and beacon technology for use in sensitive urban areas for more flexible charging eg charging by direction or time of day could be developed in short term (by 2009).

• Satellite and mobile phone location systems for ‘specific’ link based distance based charging need further development for affordable and accurate use in urban areas (beyond 2010).

Possible Timeline and Charging Basis

2006

CC NowSingle zone

Camera/ANPR

2009

Single zoneTags with

Camera/ANPR

IncentivisedTag take up

2010?

Other Congestion Areas Across London

Tags with Camera/ANPR

Beyond 2010?

GPS-basedRUC across

LondonIncentivisedOBU take-up

2009

/10

Re-

pro

cure

men

t o

f ex

ten

ded

cen

tral

zo

ne

sch

eme

Options:

1. Single flat rate £8charge per day

2. Charge by:• time of entry/exit• direction of travel• class of vehicle

Charge:

£8 chargeper day

Variable charges? By:

• centre • route• bridge• time of entry/exit• direction of travel• class of vehicle

Example charge? Rates:

Central: 60p/kmInner: 30p/kmOuter: 15p/km Non-equipped vehicles pay unattractive flat rate

www.tfl.gov.uk