Urban development: congestion pricing Peter Prince 84905

Why do we need congestion charging? Increasing population and easier access to vehicles continues to put pressure on our road systems. Whilst widening existing roads and similar improvements can increase capacity, it can also encourage more traffic. Congestion charging can help discourage unnecessary journeys in busy areas.

Solutions for congestion MethodProsCons Widening roadsIncreased capacityCan encourage more traffic Better public transportMore efficient – better ratio of passengers per vehicle than cars Less convenient than driving Little incentive to use Fixed routes Fixed times Congestion chargingDiscourages unnecessary journeys Once set up, charges can be adjusted more easily than building new roads Unpopular Perceived as favouring the rich

Singapore’s Area Licensing Scheme Paper scheme introduced in Flat fee of $3 per day for peak times in a specific area. Initially peak time was 07:30 – 09:30 Monday – Saturday. Was later extended to include the evening peak time of 16: :00, and eventually the intervening time. Labour intensive – control points have to be manned.

Results of the scheme Average speed in the restricted area nearly doubled – from 18kph to 35kph. Initial drop of traffic by 44% compared to volume before the charge was implemented. By 1988, traffic was only 31% lower than the volume before introduction of the charge – despite employment rising by 33% and vehicle ownership by 77%

Side effects of the scheme Human error occasionally resulted in instances of people receiving a summons even when they had bought a licence. It is suspected – albeit not proven - that people may have tried to ‘cheat the system’ by sharing a licence between vehicles. Congestion just before and after peak times actually increased as people tried to avoid the charges.

Why does it work? It is believed that the reduced congestion is due in part to a smaller number of people using the city as a bypass and instead circumventing the city. Another contributing factor is the number of people changing the time that they travel to avoid the charge.

How has technology helped to improve the scheme? Singapore switched to the Electronic Road Pricing Scheme in This allows for different charges for different times of day and types of vehicles, including shoulder charging to help to reduce congestion outside peak periods. Charging per entry rather than per day helps to discourage multiple trips and prevents people from transferring licences between vehicles. Unmanned gantry points allow the reduction of labour and expansion of the scheme. Offenders licence plates are photographed automatically, reducing human error.

Public opinion on congestion charging Whilst congestion charging in Singapore has become accepted, it remains highly unpopular in the UK. Attempts have been made to introduce charges in Manchester and Edinburgh but in both cases have been defeated in binding Public Referendums. While London’s congestion charge has been successful from a cost-benefit analysis point of view, it has remained unpopular, with 67% of residents in a recent consultation calling for the Western Zone to be scrapped. This has resulted in the current Mayor announcing that he will abolish the Western Zone by 2010.

Conclusion Congestion charges can be an effective method of reducing traffic levels in a city, but unless public support can be won in the UK it is unlikely to become widespread here.

References Santos, G. (2007), Congestion pricing: an idea that makes sense. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from Chin, K. (2002), Road pricing: Singapore’s experience. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from Mullholland, H. (2008), Boris Johnson axes London congestion charge extension. Retrieved December 9, 2009, from the Guardian website: C-charge extension to be scrapped. (2008). Retrieved December 9, 2009, from the BBC news website: Sturcke, J. (2008), Manchester says no to congestion charging. Retrieved December 9, 2009, from the Guardian website: Edinburgh rejects congestion plan. (2005) Retrieved December 9, 2009, from the BBC news website: