City Deal: Call for Evidence

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1 CambridgePPF Approach: Opportunity for everyone in Greater Cambridge area to benefit from a better transport system Provision of choice how to travel, whether to own a car, how children get to school etc Public transport option must be bus-based improvements to bus services to provide an attractive alternative to the car Identify a source of income sustainable over longterm to fund public transport improvements

2 The only realistic and fair sustainable source of income is some form of fiscal demand management If we want to improve our public transport services, a congestion charge is the only sustainable way of delivering this. People need to be given a genuine choice to pay or to use an improved public transport service Congestion charge as part of comprehensive package alongside infrastructure upgrades and public transport improvements, cycling and walking.

3 CambridgePPF believes need to correct the imbalance between capacity of road network and demand by drivers Past focus on increasing capacity by infrastructure engineering, transport improvements useful but not enough on their own Need to address demand to change driver behaviour More stick as well as carrot

4 Demand Management: - Passive measures to frustrate drivers out of cars: - Core Traffic Scheme, bollards, parking controls - Marginally effective in stabilising growth but drivers very resilient: need stronger measures - Direct measures to encourage behaviour change: - workplace parking charge: paid by employer so becomes employment tax: competitiveness - some form of congestion charge

5 How might a Congestion Charge work? CambridgePPF more concerned with having the principle of a charge accepted that with the operational details Appoint consultants to examine charges in other cities and model possible alternatives To be publicly accepted, system must be Fair, Non-Discriminating, Social Equitable, and Sustainable

6 Fair: - provide choice public transport or car - income ring-fenced to subsidise public transport - benefit spread across whole Greater Cambridge area not just free P&R Non-Discriminatory: - everybody pays whether resident in City or South Cambs - not just a cordon but a city-wide network of sensors

7 Socially Equitable: - all bus services throughout City and South Cambs would potentially benefit - exemptions: Blue Badge holders, others to be decided - some element of differential charging with bigger cars paying more: air quality benefit Sustainable: - sustainable long-term income for public transport from those who chose to drive - some front-end loading as attractive alternative available from day charge introduced

8 Experience from Cites with Congestion Charge: Traffic volumes typically reduced by some 20-30% Reduced volumes maintained over several years Journey times improved proportionately but often then increase as road priority given to buses and pedestrians Significant improvements to air quality Public attitude typically hostile at first but supportive once quality of life benefits materialise (Milan) Substantial income generated: 10-years London scheme, gross 2.6b with 1.6b invested in public transport

9 Would it work in Cambridge? Evidence shows financial penalty effective in persuading drivers out of their cars Needs to be part of a bigger comprehensive package of measures including infrastructure improvements Public likely to be sceptical but experience shows quickly become accustomed and then supportive 2009 Transport Commission, 59% conditional support Every reason to expect a direct charge to make a significant contribution to alleviating city s congestion

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