Sustrans makes case for a London workplace parking levy

Transport charity wants to see congestion charge zone expand and new levies on business parking

An expansion of London’s congestion charge zone and the introduction of a workplace parking levy could help restrain traffic growth, Sustrans has told the London Assembly’s Transport Committee’s investigation into traffic congestion.

Sustrans called to a full feasibility into the introduction of an extended, usage-based road charging scheme for London, covering as much of Greater London as feasible. The charity suggested that such a study would need to consider the potential complementary role of a workplace parking levy, as well as near-term modifications to the existing central London congestion charge scheme.

Sustrans also argued that priority should be given to investment in public transport, walking and cycling to provide non-car options for transport. It also wanted to see more efficient use should be made of road space for moving people and goods and called for the formation of a dedicated team within Transport for London (TfL) to reduce traffic, particularly light and heavy goods vehicles.

As employment has grown around the periphery of the current zone, the Mayor of London should explore the geographic expansion of the charging area and the creation of new zones around in outer London. “The mayor should also consider, and model the impact of, modifications to the congestion charge to better target freight vehicles while using the revenues to support freight consolidation and helping businesses to manage demand, as successfully demonstrated during the 2012 Olympics,” said the charity.

The charity suggests that a usage-based road pricing regime would potentially be the most effective way to reduce congestion. “Congestion affects particular places and particular times of the day,” said its submission to the transport committee.

The charity also made case for a workplace parking levy (WPL), similar to the system introduced in Nottingham, which it argued would be a useful tool for reducing commuting traffic while potentially providing a solution to congestion beyond the congestion charging zone in lieu of other road pricing regimes. A WPL could raise funds to be reinvested to support business travel planning and active, sustainable transport, suggested Sustrans.

“It is important that revenue is hypothecated to capital investment in sustainable transport or revenue to support businesses and their employees to manage demand and travel more sustainably,” said Sustrans. “Unlike the congestion charge or a road usage based system, the workplace parking levy charges for parking rather than car use and is therefore less flexible or targeted to specific times or locations where congestion is experienced. It also depends on off-street parking within the place of work.

The charity said that TfL is best placed to estimate, monitor and evaluate the scale and scope of options for a WPL.

Sustrans welcomed the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and wanted to see the zone expanded alongside a progressive tightening of vehicle standards. However, the charity said that as the ULEZ is likely to have only a “small impact” on congestion over time.

Sustrans stated that London has thrived for decades because of the constraints on road capacity, achieving an unparalleled shift away from private transport through the development of underground railways, the congestion charge, bus lanes and reorganising streets to provide space for walking and cycling.

“For London to continue to thrive as a prosperous, healthy city, with greater opportunity for all Londoners, Sustrans believes that more needs to be done to shift everyday trips to foot, bike and public transport,” said Sustrans. “Congestion must be viewed in light of what we want from our city, our environment, our health and our streets. This is achieved through the efficient allocation of street space to these modes, while taking measures to manage demand for road space that include road pricing.”

Sustrans pointed to the success of using a variety of charging-based demand management measures to tackle traffic growth in other countries. “A number of cities have successfully reduced traffic volumes and congestion through a package of measures that have included charging schemes alongside major investment in public transport, walking and cycling, such as Milan, Stockholm, Singapore, Florence, San Diego and Nottingham.

“Each offer slight variations on similar themes – to charge drivers for their road use, parking space or relative to the pollution their vehicles produce. Many of these then channel revenue generated back into public transport, for example in Nottingham, where the workplace parking levy has directly helped finance tram improvements.“

The paper Traffic Congestion in London can be found by clicking here