Charging ‘necessary to solve M4 problems’

SOME form of congestion charging is necessary to solve the ongoing traffic problems on the M4, a government commission has said.

The South East Wales Traffic Commission published the preliminary findings of its report on how to solve congestion issues at the M4 on Thursday.

The commission was asked by First Minister Mark Drakeford to look into alternatives to the proposed M4 relief road, which the Welsh Government said last year it would not build.

In the report, the commission said that the only way to solve the problems on the M4 was to encourage people to use more public transport – and this could only be done through “some form of charging mechanism” on the roads to encourage people to use trains and buses instead.

It said such charges could be brought in in the form of road user charging or workplace parking levies, adding that charges would be decided in line with its other recommendations.

Among the report’s other recommendations were improving bus services along main commuter routes and encouraging walking and cycling among commuters.

Regarding charges, it said: “Space on the road network is a scarce asset, free at the point of use.

“We believe some form of charging mechanism is necessary to encourage uptake of public transport and active travel alternatives, and moderate demand for the motorway.

“We also note that a charge could provide hypothecated revenue funding for regional transport services.

“We recognise the difficulty in implementing any charge before new transport alternatives are in place.

“We will focus on considering the options for charging (for example, road user charging, a workplace parking levy or other forms of parking management) and the interactions with our other emerging recommendations, including on the timing of any implementation.”

The commission said it intends to publish its full report by the end of the year.