Implementation issues and the failure of congestion charging in Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh Council proposed implementing a congestion-charging scheme as a way of tackling congestion in the city. The scheme was based on two cordons, an inner cordon in the city centre and an outer cordon inside the city bypass, and a single #2 inbound charge for crossing one or both cordons, according to the time of day. A referendum on the congestion-charging scheme was held in February 2005. The proposals were rejected by 74% of voters and were discarded. The turnout was 62%. This article describes the background to the proposed scheme, the reasons for the referendum, and the reasons for the 'no' vote, with reference to the implementation of the congestion-charging scheme in London. The congestion charge was seen as a way of funding transport improvements, including a tram system in 2009. The neighbouring authorities of West Lothian, Midlothian and Fife were major opponents of the scheme. The scheme was more complex than that introduced in London. The lessons learnt from the referendum are discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410683
• Authors:
  • ISON, S
  • ENOCH, M
• Publication Date: 2005-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 132-4
• Serial:
  • Traffic Engineering & Control
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0041-0683
  • Serial URL: http://www.tecmagazine.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Intelligent transportation systems; Local government agencies; Payment; Planning; Policy; Public relations; Publicity; Road pricing; Traffic congestion; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 632: Congestion (traffic); 8735: Intelligent transport system; 192: Local authority; 272: Payment; 143: Planning; 173: Policy; 8575: Public relations; 8573: Publicity; 240: Road pricing; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Finance; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01013885
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 22 2005 11:26AM