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Central London Congestion Charging Scheme (UK)

Transport for London (TfL) implemented the congestion charge scheme onFebruary 17, 2003 to reduce traffic congestion in Central London. InFebruary 2007, the area covered was almost doubled in size with the newWestern Extension. Since implementation of the original scheme, vehicledelays have reduced by 26% inside the charging zone and the bus fleet andridership have increased significantly.

Background

London is the largest city in the EU with 7.6 million inhabitants. Chronic traffic congestion in centralLondon threatened businesses, impeded emergency and essential services and reduced quality of life. Itlowered the efficiency of public transport and generated high time and monetary costs. The congestioncharge aims to encourage people to use public transport, clean fuel vehicles, bicycles or walk, instead ofdriving into central London..

Implementation

The 21-sq. km. congestion charging zone is bounded by the London Inner Ring Road and about 40,000

vehicles drive into it per hour in the morning peak. It requires motorists to pay a daily charge of 8 (12;raised from 5 or 7.50 in summer 2006) for having a vehicle on a public road in the charging zonebetween 7.00am and 6.30pm each weekday, excluding holidays.

Drivers pay to have their vehicle number plate registered on a database. About 230 CCTV camerasinstalled along the boundary and inside the zone record images of vehicles entering, exiting and movingwithin it. An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system matches vehicles with the database ofregistrations to charge drivers who have not paid. Payment can be made weekly, monthly or annuallythrough various modes and outlets. Motorcycles, taxis, emergency and alternative fuel vehicles areexempted and the residents of the entire charging zone (including the new Western Extension) receive a90% discount. Non-payment leads to different levels of penalties, followed by vehicle clamping or removal

if drivers continue to default. After initial problems with enforcement, there have been sharp falls in finesissued and the percentage of these fines that are then contested.

The scheme cost 230 (345) million to implement and has annual operating costs of around 88 (132)million, leaving net revenue of 122 (183) million, the bulk of which is spent on improving bus services.In cost-benefit terms, the annual present value of the scheme is around 90 (135) million.

Preceding implementation, TfL added over 300 buses and improved services to accommodate newriders. The revenues raised must by law, be spent on transport improvements in London for the next 10years.

Results so far

TfL carries out extensive monitoring. The most recent annual results, for 2005 compare to 2002, are as

http://www.eltis.org

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follows:

Congestion inside the charging zone reduced by 26%, traffic levels by 21% (the initial

reduction was greater than this but congestion levels now appear to slowly increasing

again).

Traffic levels same in 2005 as in 2002 on main route round zone.

The 37% increase in bus passengers entering zone in a.m. peak in first year was

maintained up to 2005.Bus reliability and journey times have improved - excess wait time (the waiting time that

exceeds a scheduled wait) reduced by 20% across all of London and by 30% in and

around the charging zone in first year, and this was maintained in later years.

The economy in the charging zone has been broadly unaffected - some retail was affected

initially but since 2004 retail sales have increased faster in the zone than outside it.

Conclusions

Effective public information, extensive stakeholder consultation and public hearings have been keyfactors in the scheme's success. Other important factors were enhancement of bus services beforeimplementation and accompanying measures to improve traffic management. The charge is consideredas just one measure within a wider strategy for improving transport in London.

Further information

An extensive range of monitoring reports and other documentation is available athttp://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsandpublicspaces/2265.aspx

http://www.eltis.org

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsandpublicspaces/2265.aspx