In June the Victoria Transport Policy Institute published a short report by Todd Litman on the London traffic congestion pricing program. You can find the report here: "London Congestion Pricing. Implications for Other Cities".
In mid-February the city of London began to charge a congestion fee of five pounds to cars entering core downtown areas during the day on weekdays. A variety of discounts and special arrangements were provided for certain classes of travelers (the disabled for example).
Fees could be paid at retail outlets, street kiosks, over the internet, or cell phone text messaging. Fees could be paid in advance or within a few hours of entry into the congestion fee zone. Video cameras scattered throughout the zone monitored license plates. Plate numbers were compared to lists of numbers for which fees had been paid, and fines were assessed when fees had not been paid.
Litman, publishing in June, probably reflects the impacts of the program through April or May (the first 3.5 months at a maximum - an internal statement suggests it was written after two months, in mid-April). He finds:
- traffic has dropped
- non-compliance is under control
- traffic dropped more than expected, so program revenues are less than expected
- shift to public transport
- greater use of motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds
- increased travel speed in central London
- program has been generally accepted by the public
- bulk retailing selling to customers in private cars may shift location out of central London
- traffic diversion through areas around the periphery of the congestion zone has had a minimal impact
- program costs are likely to take 80% of revenues over the first five years
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