Road Pricing in Britain

This paper describes recent developments in road pricing in Britain, given the widespread view that the London congestion pricing scheme has been a success. The paper provides historical background on the development of congestion pricing, dating back to the 1920s. The Central London plan has been greeted as a success, despite some criticism of it for high administrative costs, and interest in imposing it on the national level has grown. The particular details of the London plan are provided, including the confluence of events that enabled the newly elected Labour government to offer the newly elected London Mayor a chance to keep the income from the scheme for at least 10 years. However, translating that to a national scheme would involve different technology and require potentially costly improvements and changes to the current collection system. Revenue neutrality would be difficult to maintain and full marginal social cost pricing would be impossible. The national government seems to be responding by encouraging local authorities with the worst congestion to consider some sort of system of road pricing. However, it is also important that the national government not appear to be acting too slowly to reduce congestion.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/856156
• Authors:
  • Nash, Chris
• Publication Date: 2007-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 135-147
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport Economics and Policy
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: University of Bath
  • ISSN: 0022-5258
  • Serial URL: http://www.jtep.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Congestion pricing; Road pricing; Traffic congestion; Urban transportation policy
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01042873
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2007 1:18PM