The overall annual cost to London from traffic delays on busy
roads is £5.5 billion. This figure represents a
huge 30 per cent increase in just two years (£4.2 billion in
2012/13). The cost of delays for an average
vehicle is £20.83 per hour.
The London Assembly Transport
Committee report ‘London
Stalling’ released today calls
on the Mayor to reform the Congestion Charge and ultimately
replace with it road pricing. The Committee suggests a way of
charging people for road usage that is targeted at areas of
congestion, at the times congestion occurs.
It’s a popular idea, with over half of road users responding to a
Committee survey saying they support road pricing - only a fifth
were opposed.
In the short-term, the Congestion Charge should be reformed to
better reflect the impact of vehicles on congestion. The daily
flat rate should be replaced with a charging structure that
ensures vehicles in the zone at peak times, and spending longer
in the zone, face the highest charges.
The report also recommends:
- Reducing restrictions on night-time deliveries
- Piloting a ban on personal deliveries for staff
- Reconsidering ‘click and collect’ at Tube and rail stations
- Devolving Vehicle Excise Duty to the Mayor
- Piloting a local Workplace Parking Levy
MBE
AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport
Committee said;
“Something dramatic has to be done about the enormous
congestion problem on London’s roads. The issue is costing our
city money and costing Londoners their health and wellbeing.
Transport for London (TfL) is doing a lot to tackle congestion,
but not enough. Road pricing would be a fairer approach, as road
users would pay according to how much they contribute to
congestion.
It’s a bold move – but our survey shows that road users are
in favour and the current congestion charge is far
too blunt an instrument and too narrow in scope.
Gridlocked London needs to start moving again and tinkering
here and there is not going to achieve that. A total rethink
about who uses our roads and how is imperative to get the veins
and arteries of our great city flowing freely
again.”
Notes for Editors:
- The report ‘London Stalling’ is attached.
- David Kurten AM of UKIP agrees with Recommendations 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9 and 11 of the report. He disagrees with Recommendations 2
and 3, and partially disagrees with Recommendations 1 and
10. A minority report from UKIP is attached in the
appendix.
- Survey results attached.
