This paper outlines the history of congestion charging policy in London from its conception as a possible demand management tool in the 1964 Smeed report, through to the proposed central London congestion charging scheme which has just been through a public consultation (September 2001). A number of research programmes have been commissioned in the UK to investigate the issues surrounding congestion charging over the years. In July 2000, the Mayor asked Transport for London (TfL) to investigate the options for implementing a scheme in central London. Over the past year, the congestion charging team at TfL Street Management have been developing the scheme design and laying the foundations to procure the necessary technology and services to introduce it. The scheme is a virtual area based licence scheme and covers the heart of central London (21 square kilometres). The scheme will be enforced using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. Currently, the Mayor is reviewing the response to the public consultation on the Scheme Order. If the Scheme Order is confirmed, the work of the project team will continue on the many different aspects of the scheme. These include further work on the technical design of the scheme, the installation of cameras and the setting up of a sales channel to allow the public to purchase licences. TfL expect to be able to begin registering discounts in summer 2002 and people will be able to purchase licenses by autumn 2002. The earliest go-live date is currently set at January 2003. For the covering abstract see ITRD E209471.
Abstract