M-ways first for tolls
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Derren Hayes • Roads Minister Steven Norris has ruled out urban road pricing in the near future, describing it as "political suicide". But he told the Institute of Management Services (IMS) conference that motorway tolling is much more likely to start soon.
"Academically urban road pricing is attractive," said Norris, "but practically the technology is not yet ready and it is clearly a recipe for instant electoral defeat."
But road pricing expert Professor Peter Hills says urban tolling could start within the next five years: "Politicians can no longer hide behind the technology excuse—the framework is there and it has ample time to be refined."
Hills dismisses fears that toiling will make hauliers move on to unpriced roads to avoid paying. He says: "The risk of traffic moving outside the pricing systern is overplayed— it simply wouldn't make financial sense. It may happen in a few places but it won't be on a mass scale.
"Tolling is likely to start on motorways," says Hills, "but if congestion went on to other roads then schemes would have to start on them. We would have to keep chasing it."
In trial studies like that on the M3 next year, LGVs will be charged three times as much as cars but light goods vehicles will pay the standard car rate.
_ At the conference Norris also called for greater cooperation on road building between different interest groups: "We must get away from absolutes," he said. "It is just as ridiculous to call for the building of a new six-lane motorway between London and Birmingham as it is to call for the total abolition of cars."