A computer assessment has been made of 'no entry except for access' restrictions applied to goods vehicles over nine alternative gross weight limits in four alternative control areas in swindon: changes in goods vehicle movements, their environmental effects and their costs (at 1973 levels) have been predicted. It appears that the controls would give modest reductions in the nuisances specific to heavy goods vehicles. Net costs to the community would be low but would be made up from a combination of increased costs to operators and reduced congestion costs to other road users. The following detailed indications were noted: (1) restrictions confined to central areas appear unattractive because the same overall benefits could be achieved at less cost with controls on larger areas. (2) whole town restrictions would give modest benefits at very low costs. For example, with a 16 ton limit, the benefits for pedestrians and households would be about 20 per cent of those which would be obtained by the complete removal of all vehicles above 16 tons gross weight from the study area. The restriction would cost operators about #15,000 per year but would reduce congestion costs by about £10,000 per year. (3) with restrictions applied to areas of intermediate extent greater benefits could be obtained but at much higher costs. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting