![Page 1: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Lucinda Turner, Head of Strategic Planning TfL
Congestion Charging
![Page 2: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Today, I’ll cover:
• Context of travel in London
• Origin of Congestion Charging in London
• Operation & enforcement of the scheme
• Impacts of the scheme
• Changes to the scheme along the way
• Lessons learnt & thinking about the
future...?
![Page 3: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Context of travel in London
![Page 4: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Transport plays a vital role in supporting London’s economy
4
![Page 5: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
London is continuing to grow
![Page 6: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
...Which is putting greater pressure on the transport system
6
RECORD BREAKERS! • 4.725m journeys a day on
London Underground
• 50m journeys in a week on
London buses
![Page 7: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
London’s changed a lot since 2000...
• Major sustained investment in
public transport
• 40% increase in bus usage
• Highest ever Underground usage
• Twice as many cycling trips
• 20% traffic reduction in central
London
• 11% modal shift from car to public
transport, walking and cycling
• Less than a third of journeys now
by car
![Page 8: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
It’s important to understand what’s happening and why...
8
• A topic of particular interest = the decline
in car travel in London since 1999.
• We reported the results of this analysis in
‘Drivers of Demand’.
![Page 9: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Origin of the Congestion Charge
![Page 10: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Case for charging had been built up over a number of years
The general case established by
the London Congestion Charging
Research Programme
Mayor and Local Authorities were
given the legal powers to introduce
charging
Report looking at that a charging
system based on vehicle
registration number with a £5 daily
charge
Ken Livingstone elected Mayor on
a commitment to consult on a
charging scheme in central London
1995
1999
March
2000
May
2000
![Page 11: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Initial policy was developed into a business design
• Following the election of Livingstone:
– Scheme development and assessment
– A comprehensive public consultation
– Mayor’s Transport Strategy
– Draft ‘Scheme Order’ giving legal definition of scheme & operation
• Feedback used to develop proposals into a finalised Scheme Order,
giving a framework and business model
• We then developed:
– A more comprehensive functional & technical statement of requirements
– A cost and volume model
– A detailed procurement strategy
• Primary Service Provider was appointed to test and run the scheme
![Page 12: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
A tight implementation programme!
![Page 13: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
A comprehensive public information campaign was essential
prior to the launch
• Major public information campaign launched to reduce concerns and
inform public of key points
• Included simple poster campaign, TV & radio adverts, leaflets etc
![Page 14: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
We successfully launched the scheme on 17 Feb 2003
![Page 15: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Support for the scheme
• Prior to the introduction of the London congestion charge public opinion was equivocal
• After introduction, public opinion shifted in favour of the scheme, with opposition levels falling
• But some heightened sensitivities in the lead up to the introduction of the Western Extension
![Page 16: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Operation and enforcement
![Page 17: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
How does the scheme work now?
• ‘Area Charging’ scheme – drivers are charged a single payment to
drive within the defined area on a given day
• Charges apply Monday – Friday, 7am – 6pm
• Flat charge of £11.50 per day if paid online on the day or in advance
(although you can pay the following day at a cost of £14)
• £10.50 for vehicle owners registered for CC Autopay – introduced
January 2011
![Page 18: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Various drivers or vehicles are exempt
18
Residents receive a 90% discount, while the following do not pay:
• Buses, coaches and minibuses
• Taxis and licensed minicabs
• Motorbikes/mopeds
• Emergency services
• Breakdown/recovery vehicles
• Military vehicles
• Blue badge holders
• Certain health workers on duty
• Greener vehicles
![Page 19: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
How is the charge enforced?
19
Car enters zone and VRM is
recorded by camera 1
2
VRM is checked against database
of paid, exempt or 100%
discounted vehicles
3If VRM is matched with database,
image is automatically deleted
If no payment received, Penalty
Charge Notice (PCN) is issued using
keeper details from DVLA
4
T 123 ABC
No further
action
PCN issued
Keeper
data from
DVLA
Server
T 123 ABC
![Page 20: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Some key statistics
• £234.6m = total Gross Income
• £40.4m = scheme operational, publicity & enforcement costs
• NB all net revenues reinvested in the transport system
• 4,576 = average daily calls handled
• 19,176 = average daily web hits
• Main payment channels: web (19%); fleet (33%); auto-pay (40%)
20
![Page 21: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Scheme impacts
![Page 22: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
We spent 5 years objectively monitoring the scheme to
understand its impacts
• We published annual impacts monitoring reports
• These set out the impacts on:
– Traffic
– Congestion
– Public transport
– Travel behaviour
– Business and the economy
– Society and environment
• The final report was published in 2008
• The trends seen since then indicate the impacts of Congestion
Charging remain broadly the same
• These reports are available online: www.cclondon.com
![Page 23: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Average daily traffic entering charging zone*
23 * During charging hours (07.00-18.00)
Ve
hic
les (
00
0s)
![Page 24: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Congestion was reduced, but then started to increase again
* Moving car observer surveys - during charging hours (07.00-18.00)
![Page 25: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
So why has congestion returned?
Reflects a reduction in effective capacity of
road network for general traffic:
• Urban realm improvement schemes (e.g.
Trafalgar Square pedestrianisation)
• Pedestrian, cyclist and bus priority
measures
• Increased road works by utilities and major
construction sites (e.g. Crossrail works)
Important to balance priorities – we’re still
taking steps to tackle congestion
Without charging, congestion would be much
worse / improvements would not have been
possible...but a complex story
25
![Page 26: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
What other impacts have there been?
Economy
• Broadly neutral impact overall on business
Environment
• Congestion Charging directly responsible for reductions inside the original zone of traffic emissions equating to around 8% of NOx, 7% of PM10 and 16% of CO2
Road safety
• Between 40-70 additional fewer accidents per year compared to background trend
Travel
• Little or no change in number of trips to central area
• Bus patronage up (by about a third on those services into the area)
![Page 27: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Changes to the Scheme
![Page 28: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Keeping the scheme under review
As per the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, the Mayor keeps the Congestion Charging scheme under review, making changes when appropriate. For example:
• Pay Next Day introduced June 2006
• Charging hours: Monday to Friday, 7am–6pm (was 6.30pm until February 2007)
• Charge was increased from £5 to £8 in 2005 and from £8 to £10 in 2011. In June 2014 the charge increased to £11.50.
• The Alternative Fuel Discount was removed in 2010, replaced by the Greener Vehicle Discount, and in 2013 by Ultra Low Emission Discount reflecting changes in vehicle technology
• Changing payment channels eg Auto-pay introduced in 2011 (£10.50 charge)
![Page 29: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Extended zone 19 February 2007
![Page 30: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Proposed £25 CO2 charge
• 2007 public consultation on proposals to introduce emissions related charging
• £15 and £25 charges for the least efficient vehicles
• Aim to influence purchasing / driving behaviour, discourage highest CO2 emitting cars, encourage switch to lowest emitting cars
• February 2008 Mayoral decision to proceed
• Legal challenge by vehicle manufacturer
• New Mayor, Boris Johnson, decides not to proceed
![Page 31: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Consultation on removal of WEZ
• New Mayor asked TfL to seek Londoners'
views on the future of the Western
Extension Zone (WEZ)
• A non-statutory consultation took place in
autumn 2009
![Page 32: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Removal of the extension – 24 December 2010
![Page 33: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
What did we learn?
![Page 34: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
0
Political commitment is key
Effective research & data
Clear policy objectives
Extensive public consultation and stakeholder engagement
Strong project management & effective contract management
Strong public information campaign
Don’t sit still: monitoring, engagement and improvements
Ease of administration & acceptability v deterrence?
34
Adequate public transport
alternatives
Hypothecation of revenues
Wider complementary measures eg
controlled parking zones
Effective traffic management
Wider monitoring and evidence base
Part of a wider strategy
Mature scheme: changing
considerations / context?
![Page 35: Congestion Charging · – Congestion – Public transport – Travel behaviour – Business and the economy – Society and environment • The final report was published in 2008](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052018/6030ebf0d8dd77329274ad97/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
The future?
• Continue to keep existing scheme under review
• Increasing congestion with growing population and the desire for
better places & improvements for cycling and walking
• Roads Task Force – need to consider wider charging as well as eg
road tunnels
• Also context of reducing revenues from motoring taxation
• Option is available in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy but no plans...