Congestion charging in Greater Manchester

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Proposals for congestion charging in Greater Manchester (sometimes called the Manchester Congestion Charge) is part of a bid to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) for a £3 billion package of transport funding and the introduction of a road congestion pricing for Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. Unlike the current version of the London scheme, two cordons will be used, one covering the main urban core of the Greater Manchester Urban Area and another covering Manchester City Centre.

The reason for introducing the charge, apart from reducing demand for road space in central Greater Manchester and congestion, is to help pay for improvements to public transport with £3 billion in the form of a grant and loan, in particular for the Manchester Metrolink expansion.

News December 2008[]

Manchester rejects green transport revolution, December 12 ^[1] "But Manchester's loss could be another's gain. Government cash is still up for grabs and local authorities across the country now have the chance to bid for their own low-carbon transport systems." Tony Bosworth, FoE

Comment 2008

Manchester could be national leader on fast clean and efficient transport systems, says coalition of health, environmental and transport organisations, November 24 ^[2] place

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Village cinema UK[]

Let Me Breathe. Added: 14 November 2008. 1 min.

Why residents should vote ‘yes'[]

The coalition - Friends of the Earth, the Campaign for Better Transport, Greenpeace and Asthma UK - are encouraging residents to vote ‘yes' in the current (November 2008) referendum. They say the proposed measures will tackle a number of problems

Congestion: Greater Manchester is the most congested city in the UK outside London, and the proposals would reduce traffic levels by up to 15 per cent.
Climate change: traffic is responsible for over a fifth of UK emissions of carbon dioxide, the main climate change gas. The proposals will help cut emissions by giving Manchester a top-class public transport system and improving facilities for cycling and walking.
Asthma: The North-West has the highest emergency admissions in the UK and parts of Greater Manchester have some of the highest emergency admissions for children in England. For example Oldham has admissions more than twice the national average and Manchester has admissions 68 per cent above the national average.
Other health problems: The measures could save up to 100 lives a year through better air quality and bringing about higher levels of physical activity.
Social exclusion: the measures will improve access to services and jobs for those without a car - a third of households across Manchester and up to 60 per cent in the most deprived areas.

The groups support the use of peak-time congestion charging as part of a package of measures, with revenues used to secure investment in:

Improved public transport: including extensions to the Metrolink tram system; new railway stations and bus interchanges; extra buses, trams and train carriages; bus lanes and bus priority corridors; and integrated public transport ticketing.
Better facilities for cycling and walking: including more safe routes to schools; more cycle lanes; making streets more attractive places to walk and the introduction of low cost short-term cycle hire in two urban centres.
A package of measures including travel plans and better travel information: known as ‘Smarter Choices' and targeted at different levels (residential, businesses, hospital staff etc) to encourage people to change how they travel.

Quotes

"Traffic pollution has been shown to increase asthma symptoms by up to 50% and two thirds of people with asthma tell us that traffic fumes make their asthma worse, so we're urging people in Manchester to protect their health by backing the new transport measures." Asthma UK's Assistant Director of Policy and Public Affairs Mikis Euripides.

"A fast, clean and efficient transport system would make Greater Manchester a world leader - providing real alternatives to car use will cut congestion and climate-changing emissions. Residents should vote ‘yes' for a 21st century transport system to be proud of." Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth.

"Manchester has the chance to leapfrog other UK cities by creating a transport system that works for everyone. Far from being bad for business, it will be good. The national and international evidence is that the proposals will attract investment into the city and its surrounding areas." Campaign for Better Transport's Executive Director Stephen Joseph.

"Reducing traffic congestion is good news for Manchester's economic competitiveness as well as an important step in the fight against climate change. These proposals will make Manchester a cleaner, greener and more efficient city, as well as allowing more people to take public transport than ever before." Greenpeace's Senior Transport Campaigner Anita Goldsmith.

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