Forecasting the Environmental Effects of Road Pricing in London

Abstract

In 1991 the UK Department of Transport initiated a major research programme to assess the case for and against implementing ‘congestion charging’ on some basis within the Greater London area. Not only the costs and benefits were to be assessed but also the practical feasibility. The main results of the research programme are summarized in a three-volume Report (MVA, 1995). A vast amount of work was carried out, using a number of different models and testing and costing a large range of options. The assessment of the various alternatives involved many strands — economic, social, technological. This paper concentrates on a single aspect of the assessment, that related to environmental considerations. It is important, nevertheless, that these are seen in context.

Independent Consultant, Oxrord, UK. The author had the role or Technical Adviser ror Modelling as part or The MVA Consultancy team, who were the Programme Consultants ror the UK Department or Transport’s London Congestion Charging Research Programme. Thepaper in this volume is largely an edited version or the text or Chapters 4, 5, 8 and 10 or the Final Report (MVA, 1995), to which many other members or the team made substantial contributions. The paper is published with the permission or the Department or Transport and the Controller or Her Majesty’s Stationery Omce. The views expressed in it are not necessarily those or the Department or Transport or or any other government department.