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Congestion charge considered as gridlock threatens historic city
Published Date: 14 February 2010
By Paul Jeeves
TRANSPORT experts behind London's congestion charge are being consulted about enforcing controversial road tolls in York that could cost as much as £244m to introduce.
Efforts to tackle traffic tailbacks in the North Yorkshire city are now being intensified following an estimate that the number of vehicles on York's roads could increase by as much as 28 per cent by 2021.

Councillors have admitted that continuing with York's existing transport policies is not an option.
They are now looking in detail at the possibility of introducing a congestion charge.
They have confirmed that experts – including the firm used to implement London scheme – are now being consulted.
A shortlist of four options – ranging in cost from £97m to £244m – is being analysed including schemes to boost public transport and encourage walking and cycling, as well as the possibility of road tolls.
Members of York Council's cross-party traffic congestion scrutiny committee have prepared a survey that is being sent out to the city's 90,000 households in the next fortnight to find out what people think about tackling the problem.
Committee chairman Councillor Dave Merrett, admitted that a "radical future solution" was needed to stop the city becoming gridlocked.
Two main traffic bottlenecks in need of major improvements are the western and northern sections of the city's outer ring road – which has been dubbed "Yorkshire's answer to the M25" by business experts.
Coun Merritt admitted that securing funding to finance improvements on the scale needed presents a "really serious challenge", especially at a time when public spending cuts are imminent.
But he added: "Based on the evidence, it is clear that the city has few choices that will really make a dent in the long-term growth of traffic and congestion in the city.
"Many measures only make a marginal difference that is soon swallowed up by further traffic growth.
"The committee agreed with officers' views that a radical future solution will be required if we are to avoid the further serious spread of congestion well outside the current problem areas, increasing delays and disruption to motorists and bus users, continuing air quality problems and negative effects on both the York economy and the quality of life in the city."
The possibility of road tolls emerged in October when the transport policy review began. Congestion charges and levies on car commuting into York are the most contentious ideas.
Councillors stressed that charging motorists would only be pursued if promoting environmentally-friendly methods of transport, including cycling, buses and trains, proved ineffective.
Some work has already started. Proposals were unveiled last month by the Council to improve the approach to Micklegate Bar, which dates from Roman times and is used by as many as 17,000 drivers a day.
More bus and cycle lanes and junction improvements are being put in place on Fulford Road.
The consultation lasts until March 26.

Committee chairman Councillor Dave Merrett, admitted that a "radical future solution" was needed to stop the city becoming gridlocked.
Two main traffic bottlenecks in need of major improvements are the western and northern sections of the city's outer ring road

Er, is it me or are these statements contradictory. If the problem is that the ring road is inadequate, how will a congestion charge in the city centre help? As usual, one idea never raised is to BUILD MORE ROADS.

A congestion charge will dissuade people from coming to the City - an outcome which the local Chamber of Trade will applaud - and so they will no drive on the ring road. You cannot build more roads in the inner city so the real answer is a good, fast and frequent free park and ride system from outside the ring road

Oh, I dunno. There might be some merit in a congestion charge! It would kep all the "riff-raff" out of the city centre 'cause they'd be too poor to pay it - thereby leaving more space for the people who not only would pay the congestion charge, but would be much more likely to spend a decent amount in the fanciest city centre shops! They could then build loads of out-of-town "retail purchase experience parks" for the plebs outside the ring road and that's the problem solved!

Malcolm is right - the biggest transport problem in York is the chronic inadequacy of the A1237 northern and western ring road.

If you widen roads or build more they just end up with more cars on them.

See M25.

If you widen roads or build more they just end up with more cars on them.

Likewise, if you improve train services you (often) just end up with more people on them.

More people on trains is liveable. More vehicles (with one person in them) on roads is not.

More people on trains is liveable. More vehicles (with one person in them) on roads is not.

More cars on wider roads (or more roads) is just as liveable - single person occupancy or otherwise.

If you widen roads or build more they just end up with more cars on them.

See M25.

Well that's debatable.

More pollution, more noise, more road deaths, and pretty soon after the expansion, the same level of congestion.

Clearly, the people who do this must feel some perceived benefit, so why not let them? When we reach saturation point, no more people will go to York 'cause it's "full".

Well that's debatable.

More pollution, more noise, more road deaths, and pretty soon after the expansion, the same level of congestion.

More people on trains is liveable. More vehicles (with one person in them) on roads is not.