A ‘challenge paper’ published by the Royal Academy of Engineering has concluded that efficient road pricing offers the best way to tackle road congestion.
The working group behind the paper, including industry experts and academic researchers, looked at technology and policy measures that could reduce congestion in the most critical transport sectors by 2030, evaluating which measures would be effective and value for money.
The UK’s road and rail networks suffer from some of the worst congestion in Europe. The Department for Transport predicts road congestion will increase by 55% by 2040, with the greatest increases on vital sections of the strategic road network.
The paper considers over 20 possible measures but concludes that efficient road pricing offers the single best way to tackle road congestion.
“Road pricing schemes are technically viable today and, if properly designed, can be implemented in a cost effective and equitable way,” says the paper.
However, the authors acknowledge that political and public concerns around such schemes remain a serious barrier, and recognise that any schemes would need to be carefully designed in order to attract popular support. The paper points out that any surplus revenue from such schemes could replace vehicle ownership and fuel taxes, and be used to fund wider improvements in the transport network.
The paper also observes that ‘smart motorways’, incorporating variable speed limits and use of the hard shoulders, have the potential to reduce congestion outside of cities, but are expensive to implement. Within urban environments, a number of measuring including parking controls, car clubs, reformed bus services and light rail systems also offer value for money in reducing road congestion, but to a lesser extent than road pricing.
Professor Andrew McNaughton FREng, who led the group which produced the challenge paper, says: “Our country and economy are growing. Our transport systems are struggling to cope. Building new capacity is vital but not the universal answer. This challenge paper sets out how we can get on top of congestion, but only if we integrate technology advances and policy initiatives, and only if we act now. Working together, government, engineers and regulators can make a difference.”
Professor Tony May OBE FREng, lead author of the paper, says: “Transport congestion really matters – it’s frustrating, it wastes time for people going about their lives, and it costs money for businesses transporting goods around the country. The technology to deliver an efficient road pricing scheme is available today and has the potential to be very effective. It makes road users aware of the full cost of their travel and encourages drivers to consider other types of journey – be that a different route, a different time or a different mode of transport. There is ample evidence from where it has been applied around the world that it works and attracts public support.”
