Congestion charging schemes for Australian cities

The London scheme involves a charge (currently A$12 but about to rise to A$19 per day) to enter central London during weekdays between 7am and 6.30pm. The scheme has had a substantial impact on inner city congestion. Peak period delays have declined by 30 per cent, average travel speeds have increased by 40 per cent and bus congestion delays have declined by 50 per cent. Net revenue from the scheme is directed to improve public transit services including more buses and major renovations to the Tube system. The system is far from ideal (it charges for area access not road use and uses a fairly inefficient charging system based on video cameras) but it is a welcome demonstration of what can be achieved when the political will to deal with congestion is strong.

Following the apparent success of the London scheme, other cities around the world are now moving in the same direction. Edinburgh, Cardiff and Stockholm are actively working on charging proposals, while Barcelona, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Sao Paulo are said to be interested. The World Bank is also reported to be pressing booming cities in developing countries to use charging regimes to curb rapidly worsening urban traffic congestion.

Europe is leading the way in developing smart technology to allow a rational and efficient congestion and heavy vehicle-charging regime to be implemented. Using this technology, prices can reflect type of road, distance travelled, congestion impact, environmental ranking of the vehicle, weight of load and pavement capacity. Switzerland is already using this technology to charge heavy vehicles a premium to use the nation's road system as a shortcut through Europe.

So what steps are Australian governments taking to follow Europe's lead? Apparently only a very cautious few! Toll roads in a number of cities provide a modicum of user charging, (but charges are not linked to congestion) and the move towards wider use of electronic tolling with a system which is compatible with toll facilities nationwide is to be applauded. Some interest is being shown by our governments in introducing a satellite-based heavy vehicle charging system founded in part on the European work, but very little is apparently being done to investigate the development of congestion charging schemes.

Motoring organisations such as Queensland's RACQ and professional bodies such as Engineers Australia have been calling for the introduction of urban travel demand management schemes to be given a much higher priority in government circles. Unfortunately, there appears to be a distinct lack of political will to really grapple with the urban congestion problem, and a particular reluctance to even consider congestion charging schemes. Even the Australian Government's Auslink program - supposedly a "strategic" response to the nations transport infrastructure needs - specifically rules out funding for projects to relieve urban congestion let alone foster investigation of road charging reform. It is hard to see how a looming $29.5 billion congestion cost blowout is not worthy of "strategic" consideration.

It is time for action. Action to investigate best practice in charging policy, systems and technology world wide, action to develop a range of proposals for road pricing reform and action to institute informed community debate about the issue. There is clearly a need for the federal government to take a leadership role in this process (with active support from the states), as any system adopted should be compatible nationwide. The federal minister for transport chairs the Australian Transport Council which includes ministerial representatives from all states. It is time for him to put the issue of congestion charging on the council agenda.

Obviously, any change in charging regimes will result in a wide range of "winners" and "losers" with the distinct possibility of some resultant electoral pain. Nonetheless, a well-researched and technically sound scheme that addresses the problems of the losers and provides a real funding boost for alternative transport modes will benefit the whole community in the long term. One way or another we are all going to pay for congestion - and we'll pay a lot more if our leaders don't take action now.