Moving from localised congestion charging to full pay-as-you-drive tolling is one of 10 recommendations in the ICE’s Manifesto for London Infrastructure.
Between 2004 and 2014 the London congestion charge raised £1.2bn in revenue and reduced congestion by a claimed 30% a year after its introduction.
ICE London director Suzanne Moroney said: “Tackling the core challenges of population growth and climate change, and retaining London’s position as a leading global city, requires long term commitment to its infrastructure. But this comes at a cost and £1.3 trillion over the next 35 years is a significant and challenging target.
“Our industry, innovators and academics have a responsibility to help drive down costs through use of emerging technologies, but the next mayor must also be innovative and radical when it comes to securing new funding sources.”
Londoners vote to elect a new mayor and Great London Assembly members on 5th May 2016.
Suzanne Moroney said: “We must also open up the ‘user pays’ debate – a principle that is adopted across most infrastructure through utility bills and transport fares. Road user charging is a means of allowing a payback income stream for infrastructure investments, and when combined with effective management tools and technology, schemes can also help to reduce traffic and vehicle use.
“We would like to see a review of road user charging conducted by the next mayor to assess whether new charging zones or tolls are required, and how any future schemes could increase revenue for future transport projects. We look forward to working with the mayor and assembly to ensure London’s continued prosperity and growth.”
The ICE also recommends creation of an “Infrastructure Trust”, similar to a model being used in Chicago, to establish new methods to fund and finance infrastructure. It also wants control over vehicle taxes devolved to the GLA and hypothecated to road maintenance.
”The Infrastructure Trust set up by the mayor of Chicago, which issues bonds for the private sector to invest in, has paid for a $12m energy retrofit scheme for 60 buildings and is earmarked to fund a high speed rail link to O’Hare Airport,” Ms Moroney said. “We must learn from and seek to replicate success stories like this.”
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