Congestion zone could help to fund metro line
APOTENTIAL congestion charge in Bristol would take 200 years to pay for a proposed underground metro rail line.
Bristol City Council yesterday launched a consultation asking people in the city on their views on congestion charging.
The document states that it could raise up to £20 million per year and help fund the £4 billion underground mooted by Mayor Marvin Rees.
But if it was the sole means of paying for the line, it would take 200 years of congestion charging to raise the funding.
The consultation on the new ‘Bristol Transport Strategy’ was launched yesterday and runs until November.
The 56-page strategy states the money raised from a congestion charge could be used to help pay for an underground rail network which would include lines to the south, east and north of the city.
The £4 billion underground metro could also be part-funded by a workplace parking levy, which would see employers and/or employees forced to pay to park in the city centre.
The ideas make up part of a wider aim of reducing congestion in the city centre, increasing access and the reliability of public transport, improving the health of Bristol residents and making the city easier to travel across.
Other measures in the consultation include cycling and walking strategies, reducing freight and van travel in the city centre in peak times, reopening former rail stations and improving the safety of the city’s streets.
Once public feedback has been taken in to account, a final version of the strategy will be presented to the cabinet in the coming months.
The council is aware that charging people to drive in to particular zones of the city will be a contentious idea, so it is dipping its toe in the water to test the strength of public feeling on the issue.
Little is known about the exact terms of any congestion zones or what the prices may be.
The consultation states a Bristol congestion charge could raise between £5 million and £20 million a year after operating costs which could go towards funding an underground metro.
The initial study worked on basis that drivers would be charged an average of £5 a day – £6.50 less than the current London scheme – to enter a “central area zone”.
London’s congestion charge raises approximately £250 million per year and has been viewed as a success in cutting traffic.
However it is thought that the rise of Uber and other ride-hailing apps – who are exempt from charging – is behind a rise in traffic and a fall in congestion charge income in the capital.
“Road user charging in Bristol was first suggested in the 1975 Land Use Transportation Study and has appeared in several local transport plans since then,” the document states.
“An assessment carried out in 2013 proposed a central area zone. A fee of £5 per day for all users was proposed, operational between 7am and 10am Monday to Friday.”
Alongside the potential for a congestion zone in the city, the council is also considering a parking levy as a way of reducing traffic, improving air quality and generating money.
The consultation document states the workplace parking levy could see businesses charged an annual fee for each car parking space they own or rent.
The authority says the tax could either be absorbed by the companies or passed on to staff who drive and park at work.
The idea is very much in its infancy and there is no information as to how much the council may charge companies per parking space or when the tax may be implemented.
A similar scheme was adopted by Nottingham City Council in 2011.
The Labour-led authority currently charge businesses with more than 11 parking spaces an annual fee of £402 per space – or £1.60 per work day.
The levy has raised more than £44 million since its creation and has increased cycling and public transport use.
The revenue has been used to help redevelop the city’s railway station and put towards the electric bus network. Money raised has also been used to apply for match funding grants for other transport projects.
“Many employers in Nottingham were sceptical of the scheme before it was implemented,” the consultation document states.
“However, discussion with Nottingham Council suggests it is now accepted as part of doing business in the city.
“No major employers left the city and inward investment has increased since the scheme was introduced, with businesses taking advantage of the improved transport infrastructure, creating 2,000 new jobs since 2012.”
Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees said: “A world-class, integrated transport network is essential to Bristol’s future and we need the best approach to delivering our vision for all road users, making us a happier, healthier and economically stronger city,” he added.
“We all know some of the big challenges holding Bristol back when it comes to transport, with congestion being the most significant due to the scale and complexity of the problem.
20 Million pounds per year could be raised if a new congestion charge is
introduced in Bristol We all know some of
the big challenges holding Bristol back when it comes to
transport MAYOR MARVIN REES
“Our vision presents an opportunity to tackle these challenges head on and you can help us to agree the most effective approach.”
Cabinet member for transport and connectivity, Mhairi Threlfall, said: “No matter how you travel in Bristol, we want to hear from you to ensure we have a broad insight on what is most important to our citizens when it comes to getting from A to B.”
The consultation is open until Friday, November 2 and people can respond at www.bristol.gov.uk/transportstrategy
Copies of the consultation will also be available at libraries across the city.