.
Selling roads 1 - Spero - "Assault on the commons".
Selling roads 2 - Time - "They Really Do Own the Road".
The benefits of private tolls - Newspaper.com - "Texas: Speed Limit May be Lowered to Boost Toll Revenue".
Another bridge is switching to one way tolls in order to halve the queuing at toll barriers - News-Press (Florida) - "Toll change on bridges".
A story on congestion charging, but at airports. The airlines argue against it - ATW - "IATA lobbies against 'peak pricing'".
Other stories -
Pennsylvania - "Lawmakers fight I-80 tolls" Pennsylvania - "I-80 tolls opposed" Oklahoma - "Council resolution opposes toll bridge" Washington State - "Crossings stay brisk despite bridge toll" Virginia - "Tolls aren't way to ease traffic flow" Pennsylvania - "Lease's timing adds to dispute over I-80 tolls" Maine - "Turnpike officials are still being financially wasteful" New York / Canada - "New prepay system for tolls begun at Rainbow and Lewiston bridges".
Cambridge Toll - some reaction to the Government response to Transport Committee questions on road pricing
- CEN - "Kelly rejects claim of roads blackmail". Drivers are really stuck between the Devil and the deep Blue Sea. It is a Tory Council that is putting forward the Cambridge "C" charge plans, and a Labour Government that will agree it. All the Lib Dems can do is ask for discounts!
USA round up
- Time - "They Really Do Own the Road".
Another bridge is switching to one way tolls in order to halve the queuing at toll barriers - News-Press (Florida) - "Toll change on bridges".
A story on congestion charging, but at airports. The airlines argue against it - ATW - "IATA lobbies against 'peak pricing'".
Other stories -
Pennsylvania - "Lawmakers fight I-80 tolls" Pennsylvania - "I-80 tolls opposed" Oklahoma - "Council resolution opposes toll bridge" Washington State - "Crossings stay brisk despite bridge toll" Virginia - "Tolls aren't way to ease traffic flow" Pennsylvania - "Lease's timing adds to dispute over I-80 tolls" Maine - "Turnpike officials are still being financially wasteful" New York / Canada - "New prepay system for tolls begun at Rainbow and Lewiston bridges".
Tolls "Tres Bon"
More tolls pushing in Quebec, with the serious suggestion that private firms take over the roads and bridges and charge tolls -
The Gazette - "Toll roads a stable investment".
Tolls may be charged on existing roads
Forbes - "Road operator Estradas de Portugal allowed to charge tolls".
Only one Ned
The drivers of Sydney must be very law abiding, it appears that only one driver is trying to evade the tolls - Live News - "Toll dodging motorist caught by police" New South Wales Police".
Thursday 18 October 2007
USA round up - later news
Georgia - "Road Privatization: Explaining the Trend, Assessing the Facts, and Protecting the Public" Pennsylvania - "I-80 Toll Plan Should Be 'Null And Void'" Virginia - "Attorney General to Lead Inquiry of Greenway Investor".
London Two
London to go even slower - Having achieved a zero increase in traffic speeds with his Congestion charge, and having this week received the accolade of being responsible for Europe's slowest roads, the Mayor now proposes to reduce the "speed" limit throughout the capital - The Register - "No-humping 20mph limit for London" (with plenty of comments!).
London CO2 toll and congestion - A report commissioned by Land Rover suggests that the effect of the £25 a day CO2 charge will make congestion worse - BBC - "Warning over pollution c-charge".
M4 Toll
More private enterprise - icBerkshire- "MP sets up Commons meeting as travellers return".
Road pricing marches on
It was reported this week that road pricing was to be abandoned by the Government, and in particular that the Road Pricing section of the Local Transport Bill would be dropped. Despite these reports it seems that more authorities, including Bristol, are submitting Transport Innovation Fund Congestion Charge bids, though we don't know whether all these bids will be "compliant" (to be compliant the bid should include either congestion charging or a workplace parking levy).
Here is a more accurate report of the situation from Motorcycle News who have organised a protest in London this Saturday, they want bikers to be exempt from all charges - "Local road pricing to inform Government decision on national scheme". Here is another report from Kable - "Government denies road charging 'blackmail'".
This is the Government Response: to the Transport Committee views on the Draft Local Transport Bill and on the Transport Innovation Fund (pdf version) that was published yesterday. The part dealing with road pricing starts at para 40 on page 12. There is little that is really new. It is difficult to see why there were reports that road pricing had been abandoned as the Government make it quite clear that they intend to proceed with the Bill with the aim of making it easier for local politicians and officials to introduce road pricing whether this is supported by local people or not. A few details -
At para 46, the Government say that they want the local schemes to have compatible systems - this will make it easier when they move to a national scheme.
At para 47 the Government tries to allay concerns about the provisions in the Bill on data sharing - this is nonsense as the whole system will depend on surveillance and the Bill would make it legal for data to be provided to the Government.
At para 50 the Government boasts that it plans to spend £1.7 billion on roads over the next 2 years - this is a derisory amount as the Government over two years will collect £100 billion from drivers for using the roads, and road pricing will add even more to the amount that drivers have to pay.
At para 51 "The Government rejects the suggestion that local authorities are being blackmailed and forced to introduce charging schemes against their will. The Government has consistently made clear to local authorities considering charging schemes that they need to be sure that they have a congestion problem that is receptive to being tackled by charging, and that charging as part of a wider package is the right solution. While local pricing schemes will inform the wider debate about road pricing we are not looking at road pricing trials or experiments; indeed we will not support schemes unless there is robust modelling to show
that schemes will be beneficial." - Does anyone beleieve that any local authority would be stupid enough to introduce road tolls unless they believed that it was the only way that they could get Government money?
At para 52 the Government makes it clear that to get money the authorities' "proposals must include an element of hard demand management".
PS Another indication of what is planned on road pricing came in a speech today on democracy and constitutional reform, given by Michael Wills, Minister for Jusice referring to - "policies such as road pricing and the Iraq war", the minister said that the Government had "to make unpopular decisions and face down vested interests".
Wrong tack
The Tory Shadow Transport Minister in the Welsh Assembly wants to be able to pay tolls by card - BBC - "Bridge toll plastic payment call" (Note that BBC Wales ignores opposition to the tolls and though they have published comments on this story there are none opposing the tolls). The call to allow the use of credit and debit cards misses the main point - it is an anachronism that there is a toll to enter Wales via the Severn Crossing. Drivers around Britain pay £50 billion a year in taxes on roads use, there is no justification for an extra toll tax. Whether drivers pay by cash or card, tolls cause delays and are also a safety hazard as on the approach to the tolls drivers have to slow down, fumble to find the payment (whether cash or card), and possibly manoeuvre between lane queues.
USA round up - earlier news
Some New York toll advocates seem to realise that a London style "C" charge would only generate enough tolls to cover collection costs, and seem to prefer a cordon based on tolling all bridges including those that are currently toll freee - Streetsblog - "Pricing advocates call for impact study and new parking policies".
It seems that New York is to be tolled one way or another. Here is an attack on the suggestion that high car parking charges limit traffic and thus congestion - Room Eight - "If Your Policy Has Failed Do It More?".
On Tuesday we had a story that Illinois and Missouri had reached an agreement on the new Mississippi bridge, apparently this is not so - KWMU - "No bridge agreement yet, despite some reports".
Other stories - Virginia - "Transportation group to study possibility of highway tolls" New Hampshire - "Wieczorek backs off toll hike challenge" Texas - "Highway 121 project receives federal environmental clearance" (Land Line) - "OOIDA questions ethics of Pennsylvania I-80 lease" (Logistics Management) - "Pennsylvania DOT, Turnpike Commission get on the road with I-80 tolling plan"
North Carolina - "Lack of State Money No Barrier to Toll Road Planning".
Cambridge Toll - Interview - "The gun that is being held to our head by government"
The Leader of Cambridgeshire gives an interview on Congestion Charge and other matters - Hunts Post - "Shona Johnstone Interview". She says that "I don't want a congestion charge." and implies that the Government is forcing the Council to introduce one. Strange that nearly every other Council in Britain doesn't feel so compelled.
Wednesday 17 October 2007
More on Slow and slow Britain
Further to yesterday's story of Britain's cities having the slowest moving traffic in Europe, here is the original PR from "Keep Moving" - "Europe's Slowest Cities".
More on South African toll plans
It seems that those who want to make it a bit harder to be tracked will be charged 40 per cent higher tolls - IT Web - "The toll gates, they cometh!".
Tolls too low
The Eurotroll action against Spain over toll discounts is proceeding - slowly - Focus News - "European Commission refers Spain to Court of Justice".
Another story says that Denmark has also been reported to the courts for failing to "transpose" EU laws on tolls.
Humber Tolls - Councils support removal
Grimsby Telegraph - "LINKING UP TO AXE 'RIDICULOUS' FEE".
The toll sale goes on
It seems that the RAC Foundation have not given up on their efforts to sell road pricing. They are suggesting a voluntary scheme where those who join pay lower fuel taxes - Auto Industry - "RAC Foundation suggests voluntary road pricing". If nothing else this would keep the oil companies happy!
Cambridge Toll - Application goes in
Cambridgeshire has submitted its Congestion Charge application - CEN - "Council puts in bid for charge funding". The council say that they have not decided to have a charge. This is the same as telling the animals on the way to the slaughterhouse that no decision has yet been made on their fate.
USA round up
NY Streetsblog asks - "What is-congestion pricing?". They say it is what the Federal Government says it is. The real answer of course is that it is a scam.
We reported yesterday that Mary Peters had been in Oregon selling tolls and arguing against gas taxes. It appears that she must be on a national sales tour - San Francisco Chronicle - "Transportation secretary praises Bay Area congestion-relief plan".
More on the signing of the deal handing over the Interstate 80 to the turnpike (see "USA latest" yesterday) -
Centre Daily Times - "I-80 tolls spark war of words" Erie Times - "Toll opponents criticize turnpike's lease of I-80" Williamsport Sun Gazette - "Future of I-80 now in hands of Washington" Morning Call - "PennDOT, Turnpike sign lease agreement" Pocono Record - "Turnpike Commission begins making plans to charge tolls on I-80" Pittsburgh Post Gazette - "State takes first steps for tolls on I-80" Land Line - "Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to control I-80".
A plea for more taxes! Star-Tribune (Minnesota) - "I want to pay for a bridge".
Other stories - California - "Goal is to push FasTrak use to 70% in Bay Area" New Hampshire - "A toll compromise to rescue Merrimack and Rochester" Virginia - "Wolf Presses AG Review Of Greenway Increases" New York - "Brown’s ideas".
More of the Government giveth
We reported on the 9th that Sydney was proposing to use up to $5 billion of public money to subsidise toll roads. Now it's the turn of Brisbane though in this case it is only $500 million - Brisbane Times - "Rudd pledges $500m to Toowong tunnel".
Tuesday 16 October 2007
USA latest
The deal handing over the Interstate 80 to the turnpike has been signed. It is expected that the Federal government will authorise tolling it - Morning Call - "PennDOT, Turnpike sign lease agreement" Patriot News - "PennDOT and Turnpike sign agreement to toll I-80".
Just in case there is any doubt about whether the Federal government will allow tolls on the Interstates, here is what Mary Peters said about tolls yesterday in Oregon - DOT - "REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE MARY PETERS SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION". Her speech also included - "Americans are also growing increasingly concerned with our reliance on foreign sources of oil, saving fuel, and a cleaner environment. So, it also makes absolutely no sense to raise the gas tax at a time when we are exploring every feasible way to increase energy independence, promote fuel economy in automobiles, stimulate alternative fuel development, and reduce emissions." If anyone can see any logic between the first and second sentence, then George W is looking for people like you!
Slow and slow Britain
Britain's cities are said to have the slowest moving traffic in Europe - Daily Mail - "Traffic jam Britain - UK cities have slowest-moving traffic in Europe". It is interesting that the city with the "C" charge is the slowest of them all. If the figures indicate anything at all, it is that British drivers are the only ones in Europe who would pay extortionate amounts in road taxes and at the same time let the politicians and bureaucrats do their best to bring the traffic to a halt.
London Three
Argument over effect of C charge on retail sales - Mayor Watch - "'Livingstone Spinning Retail Figures'". The obvious point is not made - the main damage from the charge is when it was introduced and again when it was increased to £8. Any recent sales improvement is starting from a lower base.
ABD and "Facebook" opposition to a Greenwich Toll - News Shopper - "Congestion charge an option".
Yesterday we reported on a story in the Evening Standard which said that "Londoners" backed £25 C charge. Today the paper has a report of another survey which says - "75% of small businesses to oppose £25 C-Charge".
More on No Road pricing??
According to the Government this is a non story, but there has been more reaction to the report that the Government has filed its national road pricing plans in the attic - Birmingham Mail - "End of the road for pricing plan"
Auto Industry - "RMIF applauds dropping of national road pricing from local transport bill; BVRLA doesn’t".
Cambridge Toll - It's cheaper by bus
It is revealed that Cambridgeshire which wants to spend hundreds of millions on public transport (with the cash coming from drivers and national taxes) currently spends only £4 per head of its own money on public transport - CEN - "Low buses spending may hit toll scheme". The county has the second lowest council tax in the country. What are the chances that the Government and their advisers will realise that the road pricing pilots will achieve nothing other than to rip off both local drivers and national taxpayers?
Go slow
A group that advises Parliament on road safety issues wants the speed limit in urban areas reduced to 20 miles per hour, with the limits strictly enforced using cameras - BBC - "20mph limit called for in towns" Mirror - "Road group calls for 20 mph town limits". Any bets as to whether the people who support this also support tolling all roads in order, so they say, to reduce congestion? The answer to this is covered in the report just issued by the group. It refers to the increased safety risks that will be caused by traffic diverting onto less suitable roads, by more collisions due to "fatigue and reduced visibility" off peak, and switches to less safe means of transport. Despite this they implicitly welcome tolls.
PSABD Press release.
"M4 relief toll will be highway robbery"
One view on the planned new toll road - Western Mail.
USA round up
A Virginia state rep is unhappy about the agreed increase in the Dulles Greenway tolls - WTOP - "Wolf Calls for Investigation Into Greenway Finances". If it is a case of a toll firm's accountants and lawyers versus those from a state, there is little doubt who is likely to come off best.
It is not confirmed but apparently the long dispute over the new Mississippi bidge has ended, and it will be built - free of tolls - Lake Expo - "Illinois, Missouri have agreed on new Mississippi Bridge, media reports say".
Criticism of American Civil Liberties Union for opposing the use of tagging and cameras to toll drivers - Government Technology - "Can the ACLU Stop The Benefits of IT and Electronic Cameras?".
Update on the Bill that would require Federal Government to be paid back if an Interstate is tolled - Land Line - "Bill would force states to pay if they want to toll interstates".
Other reports -
Pennsylvania - "Rendell defends I-80 plan to Clarion council" New Jersey - "Secret plans" Pennsylvania - "U.S. rep blasts PA turnpike chief for I-80 toll rhetoric".
"Consultation" on South African toll plans
Business Day - "Tollgate plan for Gauteng roads gathers steam".
Banking
FT report on the Australian bank whose funds control assets round the world including Britain's M6 Toll road - "Macquarie disputes claims funds at risk". What this article does not mention is that some of these deals are PFI or PPP, which means that there are usually very large amounts owing to other banks or separate arms of the same bank.
Monday 15 October 2007
No Road pricing??
See PPS to story below.
USA round up
"Transportation Alternatives" (a group of cyclists) wants bigger toll increases in New York - NY Post - "MTA IS UN-FARE".
A view from the right on the NAU Super (toll) Highway - "Anti-NAU warriors beginning to move the rock uphill!".
NJ Voices - "Ask not for whom the Guv tolls".
Other stories - Pennsylvania - "Another mess caused by secrecy" Illionois - "Travel tales" New Hampshire - "Toll hike due to high spending, bad management" DC - "Moran, Davis Don't Support Bridge Tolls" Florida - "Cut taxes, add fees" Oklahoma - "Future highway grid may have more tolls".
Neighbours
The BENELUX countries want to introduce tolls, mainly to charge those who come from across the internal frontiers. Though oddly they want to have the same system - Expatica "Dutch want joint km charge for Benelux".
Londoners back charges
A survey in the Evening Standard says that "Londoners" - "back higher charges for 4x4s" and for low enmission zone. As one reader comments - "As long as they are not affected personally, a majority will always be happy to impose taxes on a minority (irrespective of the merits of the argument)."
"Potential investors reluctant to build transport infrastructure"
Vietnam Net.
Tolls "Non"
On Friday we reported that a Quebec poll said that two out of three people want to see the tolls reintroduced. Here is a contrary view -
The Gazette - "An increased levy on gas would be best way to pay for roads".
No Road pricing??
This suggestion was first floated in the summer, but here it is in the Telegraph - "Labour to scrap national road pricing plans"
"Road pricing decision is long overdue" Leader "Some U-turns are good, Gordon Brown".
The Telegraph claims to have led a campaign against road pricing. This is fantasy. They fully backed national road tolls till they saw how many people were signing the Peter Roberts petition. Since the petition closed they have ignored the subject and now attempt to rewrite history by saying that not all those who signed Peter's petion "were opposed in principle to the idea of road pricing.".
The Telegraph makes it clear that it wants more tolls - "This newspaper approves whole-heartedly of using tolls to fund the private construction of new roads: in other words, to allow contractors tooffer an entirely new service, and then recoup their costs by charging users of that service. We can see the case, too, for local congestion charge schemes, imposed at the discretion of elected councils."
Given that the next election is at least a year away, it would make sense for the Government to abandon a policy which by then would be electoral suicide. But it remains to be seen what they will do. If Gordon Brown was as clever as people thought that he was the Government would completely abandon the idea of all forms of road tolls and leave the Tories out on a limb. As he probably is not that clever he will probably just slow down plans for national road pricing while proceeding with road pricing pilots in Manchester, Cambridge and elsewhere.
William Hague was in Manchester at the end of last week and said - "It is wrong for the Government to blackmail Manchester by only offering money for public transport if the city introduces a congestion charge. Local road pricing would bring major disadvantages." Will David Cameron listen to William Hague or to John Redwood and the Telegraph?
PS Story in Daily Mail - "Labour 'does U-turn on national plan for road tolls'" the Guardian - "Road-pricing plans 'to be shelved'" and the Register - "Road pricing 'back-burnered' by Brown gov't".
PPS This is what the PM's spokesman told the press - Re the Telegraph's story this morning, it was asked if the subject of transport and road prices in the Queen's speech would be different to what was expected. The PMS said that there was a certain amount of bafflement regarding the Telegraph's story this morning; the whole premise seemed to be that it was the existing Government's position that there would be legislation to be brought forward to enable a national road pricing scheme, but actually the draft legislation, which was published in May, did not include any such provision. The whole premise of the story was wrong in the sense that its depiction of the Government's existing position was not an accurate one; there had been no change in that position. What the Government wanted to see was road pricing working in local and regional pilots before making a decision about whether or not a national scheme was needed; that was no more than a re-statement of the existing policy so nothing had changed.
Friday 12 October 2007
Global or bigger?
Al Gore and the UN panel that promotes global warming have won the Nobel Peace prize - BBC. Meanwhile there are suggestions that other planets are getting warmer - The People's Voice - "Global warming caused by man-made activity? -A Convenient Lie!".
Humber Tolls - More support for removal?
A local MP gives some support to removing the Humber Bridge tolls but says - "But at the same time, we need to be engaging other parts of the country with similar problems, otherwise we will struggle to convince people the tolls should be lifted here, when they exist all over the country. It is always going to be difficult saying 'do something for this region'. What we should be saying is 'do something for all regions in this position'." - Scunthorpe Telegraph - "TOWN MP BACKS HUMBER BRIDGE DEBATE".
Parking up the wrong tree
A Brooklyn Eagle report on the New York Toll plan includes what is said to be an off the record remark by Ken's deputy that it is the high parking charges which discourage traffic- "Pricing Parking Needed To Get The Full Payoff From Congestion Pricing". The reality is that based on the official figures the punitive Congestion charges have had no effect on increasing traffic speeds - they are the same as before the London C toll was introduced.
USA round up
US DoT is sponsoring new research into how truck traffic in New York can be reduced - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - "Freight Management in Manhattan: Tax Incentives and High-Tech Tools for Night Owls". The story says that "Research shows that after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey increased tolls in 2001, only 9 percent of trucking companies passed on the increased costs to customers .... the only impact of increasing tolls is to eat away the truckers’ profits, with no real impact on traffic congestion.".
Various states are considering truck toll lanes on the Interstate 70 - New Hampshire - "Truck-only lanes on I-70 to be studied in 4 states". Roads are the way that 99 per cent of goods are moved. Tolling trucks for using the main roads, encourages them to use inferior roads and benefits no one but trolls. It is far better to tax fuel as it encourages freight firms not to speed and to use the most efficient vehicles and routes for moving their loads.
Update on what will be one of the first conversions of Interstates to toll roads - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - "I-80 toll conversion speeds on".
The Texas Transportation Institute tolls propaganda is still doing the rounds - Florida Times-Union - "Riding a snail".
Some of the loot from selling the rights to tolling is being shared out - Dallas Morning News - "Counties compromise as Highway 121 funds split up". Strange that no one asks where all this "free" spending money is coming from.
Mayor Michael is not getting it all his own way with the New York Toll - NY Times - "Study Gives Alternatives to City Plan for Traffic".
Kitsap Sun - "Questions Raised Over Narrows Bridge Tolls".
Other stories - New Hampshire - "Toll hikes just a first step" Massachusetts - "Gain from toll hike more than estimated" New York - "Latest talk of toll hike comes under fire" Massachusetts - "Pike officials must do more than listen" Maine - "Legislature should not look for 'quick fix'" New Hampshire - "Put the toll hikes in reverse" DC - "HOT Lanes on the 14th Street Bridge?".
More - Texas - "Toll Bridge expected to open on time despite delays" DC - "HOT Lanes on the 14th Street Bridge?" Washington State - "State audit proposes adding tolls, lanes" Florida - "Keeping them public" Massachusetts - "Pike plan prompts traffic concerns" Rhode Island - "Bridge authority hires new public relations and marketing firm" New York - "Fare and toll hike hearing planned"
Massachusetts - "Toll hike a drop in the bucket" Maryland - "Police Cameras Catch More Than Toll Violators".
More on Border Toll dispute
vheadline - "Colombian border tolls violate Andean Community rules" el Universal - "Protesters threat to build walls on border bridges".
One view on South African road pricing plans
The Times - "Getting a grip on gridlock".
Tolls "Oui"
Some years ago Quebec got rid of its road and bridge tolls. A "Leger" poll now says that two out of three people want to see the tolls reintroduced.
More tricks to try and beat the Salik tolls
- Gulf News - "No trick can cheat Salik system: RTA".
Travel plan
The Government is encouraging "personal travel planning" which it says could reduce car use by 10 per cent - DfT press release. Further details - DfT - "Making Personal Travel
Planning Work:
Case Studies" (pdf file).
You are doing well!!
Local councils around Britain are doing their best (worst?) to create congestion and slow traffic down. Despite this at the beginning of the week at a Local Government Association conference on integrated transport, the Transport Minister "congratulated the successful local authorities for developing plans to beat traffic jams and keep roads flowing". The DfT then issued separate press releases in each region singling out the authorities in that area for doing so well! this is the one that was issued in the North West area. Further details - DfT - "Assessment of Network Management Duties within Local Transport Plans".
Thursday 11 October 2007
Humber Tolls - Support from Councils
Local councils are to sponsor new research into the effects of the Humber Bridge tolls - BBC - "New push for cut in bridge tolls" Scunthorpe Telegraph - "NEW BRIDGE TOLL PROBE TO START".
Cambridge Toll - More on jobs moving
CEN - "A mass exodus fear for the city".
York Toll - "Politicians should stop treating climate change as a free cash machine and the electorate as fools and imbeciles"
The Press - "New road waste".
Facing up to the Con
A new group on Facebook - Bexley Times - "Internet fight to stop congestion charging".
Some reactions to Chancellor's speech on Tuesday
Channel 4 - "Chancellor's transport plans: more questions than answers" Transport Briefing - "Darling safeguards transport budget rises until 2019" Road Transport - "Pre-Budget report disappoints industry".
Welsh suicide pact
A quango of local authorities in South East Wales aims to go for the jugular - they want to increase tolls on the Severn bridge and extend them into the distant future - Western Mail - "Your big Welcome to Wales road tax" Western Mail - "New M4 funding options".
Welsh bosses view
As a surprise there is a fairly balanced view on road pricing from the Welsh CBI - one of the main proponents of the plan - Western Mail - "Paying for no jam tomorrow". Though of course as usual it is completely ignored that many many billions would be wasted in setting up, running and enforcing the system.
Green councils
Councils are being urged to go in for "carbon trading" and "congestion charging" - BBC - "Councils urged to use green ideas". Are two scams better than one?
Tuesday 9 October 2007
"Meeting the aspirations of the British people"
This was the title of the 282 page document issued today following the Chancellor's Pre Budget report and Spending Review. The roads bit of it might as well have been titled "We will continue to do next to nothing to improve the roads while at the same time seeing how much more we can tax drivers even if nearly all the extra tax is wasted on the cost of collection."
These are the few bits in the report that referred to roads or road taxes-
4.33 The Local Transport Bill will increase flexibility for local authorities to introduce road pricing schemes as part of packages of measures to tackle local congestion problems. The DfT continues to work with local authorities who have submitted or are considering a bid for Transport Innovation Funding to support such packages. The DfT is also inviting industry to demonstrate the feasibility of distance-based road charging where the charge varies according to time of day and place. A number of companies ve expressed interest in participating in these demonstrations.
4.36 The DfT has published a progress report on other ways of delivering more targeted enforcement on foreign vehicles alongside the 2007 Pre-Budget Report.8 One option under
consideration is a ‘vignette’ - a time-based charge for the use of UK roads designed to ensure foreign hauliers help pay for the wear and tear inflicted by their vehicles.
D3. DfT to take forward road pricing, including support for local schemes and work to establish whether large scale distance-based charging is technically feasible while safeguarding privacy.
D3.9 The 2007 CSR provides for significant investment in roads, consistent with the conclusions of the Eddington Transport Study, to support the needs of a growing economy. It
allows provision for increasing capacity on a number of the nation’s most congested roads. Furthermore, the 2007 CSR confirms the Government’s commitment to use resources from
the Transport Innovation Fund to tackle congestion through supporting local road pricing schemes, subject to appropriate proposals coming forward. The Government will be looking
in detail at proposals received, including for accompanying public transport."
Cambridge Toll - Jobs move
CEN - "Road charge sparks move".
Update on Great Escape
The Bikers "Not us" demo - MCN - "Whitehall to be bike-only zone".
USA round up
From the Newspaper.com - "Plans to Toll Interstate Highway System Expand".
A big victory for Texan Trolls - KLBJ - "After Meeting Their Opposition CAMPO Approves More Toll Roads" Daily Texan - "Plan's approval creates 5 toll roads" Austin American Statesman - "Board approves five new toll roads" MyFox - "CAMPO Votes to Toll Five Existing Austin Roads".
The American Automobile Association have published the results of a poll that they did in eastern states. They say that drivers want more toll increases, that nearly half want more sale of roads, and nobody wants the gas tax increased. Good news for trolls and oil suppliers!
More dreaming in the New York Times - "M.T.A. Says Mayor’s Plan to Ease Traffic Will Cost $767 Million to Accomplish". The reality is that the London Con has so far generated about $2 billion in tolls and penalties from drivers, but this has so far cost about $2 billion to collect and enforce.
Other stories -
Massachusetts - "Public hearings to be held on proposed toll hikes" New Jersey - "Guv's silence on tolls deafening" Virginia - "It's all timing" Massachusetts - "The battle is on for toll equity" Massachusetts - "Commuters to take aim at toll hikes" Massachusetts / New Hampshire - "States turn to drivers for road repair funds".
More South African tolls planned
Business Day - "Radebe’s R60bn pill for Gauteng gridlock".
The Government giveth ..
Up to $5 billion of the $7 billion cost of a new tollway would be given to the private operator by the Government - Daily Telegraph Live News.
.. and the Government taketh away
Sydney's Cross City tunnel is reported to have generated $2 million in speeding fines while the toll operators are struggling - Daily Telegraph - "Cross City tunnel speed trap roulette".
Engagement back on?
Speculation that the marriage of the trolls may happen after all - Forbes - "Abertis declines to make any evaluation of Italian govt-Atlantia accord".
Cambridge Toll - Gap
It is reported that despite a large gift from the taxpayers the Cambridge Toll may not generate as much as thay plan to spend - CEN - "Taxpayers 'will not fund' road toll scheme". A strange story, as if they don't get enough money, they will do a London and increase the tolls.
Cambridge Toll - A tales of buses and three cities
A report in the Western Mail compares bus growth in a Welsh area with that in Cambridge. The interesting point is that despite the massive bus subsidies and the congestion charge in London, there has been more growth in bus use in Cambridge than in London - "Getting Cowbridge back on the bus".
Humber Tolls - Demo 2
Report on Saturday's protest against the Humber Bridge tolls - Grimsby Telegraph - "TOOTS OF SUPPORT FOR BRIDGE TOLL PROTEST".
Monday 8 October 2007
What Gordon says about road pricing - "Erm .."
At todays' press conference the PM was asked - "Given the new era of consultation seeking and listening to public concern that you have announced, are you prepared to look again at the government's intention to introduce pay as you drive road tolls?". His "answer" was - Well this is an issue that is being debated all the time. The issue of transport charging is something that is not resolved at all, these are issues that people are looking at in detail all the time. We have congestion charging in London, we have had ballots in other cities, but this is an issue that people will continue to look at and it will take time of course to make these decisions implemented anyway."
Norwich Toll - No?
Norfolk County Council which is Tory controlled is one of the ten potential areas for a road pricing pilot. The charges would apply in Norwich, but the Labour controlled Norwich City council, with Tory support, says that the County should abandon the plans - Norwich Evening News - "City congestion charge rejected".
Oxford Toll
Oxford is not one of the ten potential areas for a road pricing pilot, but the local paper tells is readers that "The congestion charge has been a huge success in London and Durham. How long before it appears in Oxford?" Oxford Mail - "Bus gate cash bonanza".
Scotland leads the way on road tolls
Yesterday's Scotland on Sunday said - "SNP vows to block road tolls north of Border".
The position in Scotland is that both the SNP and the Scottisn Tories made it clear during the May election that they are opposed to all forms of tolls. The Greens are of course in favour of anything which is anti roads user, even if it means road tolls replacing fuel duty. Scottish Labour seems to follow the policy that was first set out by Alistair Darling and then briefly carried on by Douglas Alexander. The Scottish Lib Dems are in favour of road tolls, but in practice this mainly seems to mean tolls that apply to other people and other areas and the Lib Dems opposed the Edinburgh Toll.
Could the Scots torpedo road pricing in England? They could if some of the other parties at Holyrood came out and took the same stand as the SNP and the Scottish Tories. The voters in England would never accept an England only toll tax, whether or not the person at number Ten lives at Queensferry and when he was an opposition MP campaigned for removal of Forth Road bridge tolls.
RIP does not mean "Rest in Peace"
Henry Potter in yesterday's Observer says - "The government trumpets free speech while trampling on it". This story is the tip of the iceberg as there seems to be a "D" notice on papers reporting on the RIP Act powers that are already being exercised by hundreds of authorities to get transcripts of your phone calls and intercept mail.
Saturday 6 October 2007
From the Land of Make Believe
A lengthy article from the Telegraph on the problems of taxing cars according to CO2 emissions - "Fuel's gold". It is amazing the extent to which certain interests have fooled the public with all this nonsense. If you want to reduce fuel use, then you tax it.
Humber Tolls - Demo 2
Another demonstration against the Humber Bridge tolls takes place today - Scunthorpe Telegraph - "PROTEST ON TOLLS".
Tories and drivers
Mike Rutherford's column in Auto Express - "Mike shares his opinions of the Tories, David Cameron, and car-hostile proposals.".
Cambridge Toll - Tories say "Get on your bikes"
The latest report says that £55 miilion of the tolls to be paid by drivers will be spent on facilities for cyclists - CEN - "Here we go with bid".
More on the plans - Ely Standard - "More buses in Ely but no congestion charge".
Transport priorities
It has been announced that £16 billion is to be spent on "Crossrail". The benefits of the new railway line are said to include that "businessmen jetting in to Heathrow will take only 43 minutes to reach Canray Wharf, instead of taking one hour" - BBC - "Crossrail splits fans and foes".
"Ticking bomb"
Edie - "Road pricing is a "ticking bomb", LGA warns".
Thursday 4 October 2007
London selling tolls to New York
NY Daily News - " A congestion pricing plan can refuel this city's future".
Toronto to toll?
From The Star - "City takes `anti-car' report out for a spin".
USA round up
Virginia is considering scanning all vehicles to detect how many people are in the vehicle - Freelance Star - "Infrared technology could catch cheaters on I-95 lanes".
Tolls sales pitch - Cascadia Prospectus - "Tolling goes mainstream".
Other stories -
Washington State - "Smooth, safer commute with second bridge" Pennsylvania - "Turnpike chief limits I-80 toll use" New Hampshire - "Toll increase okayed" Maine - "Turnpike officials to travel to Austria" "Millstone against selling off New Jersey's toll roads " Texas - "Crosstown Expressway may soon see toll road" Massachusetts - "Mass. Pike Tolls Set To Increase" Massachusetts - "Fraud on the Pike".
Wednesday 3 October 2007
Drivers support road pricing!!
What Car says that 55 per cent of drivers support pay per mile road pricing - "Pay-per-mile charges are 'fairest'". What they don't tell you is what choice the drivers were given. Unbiased surveys show that in reality the vast majority of drivers oppose any form of road pricing and prefer a system of fuel duty.
Three from Wales
South Wales Echo - "‘Better transport to airports’ is promised".
South Wales Echo - "Charges hit poor hardest".
South Wales Echo - "Traffic policy piling agony on motorists".
USA round up
Though the trolls still dominate in many states, there are some voices who realise that the gas tax is a better way of funding roads. In Massachusetts there is a big discussion on the dependance on gambling and tolls. A Boston Globe writer says that there is - "Another way". He ends - "No tax is perfect. A gas tax is regressive for working stiffs who have to drive to work, but not nearly as regressive as the lottery. It puts all the incentives in the right places. It is a user tax; those who use the roads pay. It costs nothing to collect and is far fairer than raising the tolls on Massachusetts Turnpike commuters forever. Most importantly it squares with what should be our national policy of energy independence. Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has proposed a $3 gas tax phased in over time. Is no one willing to stand for another way?".
The House Speaker has made the same suggestion - WHDHtv - "Patrick plan would create new, massive transportation authority".
Other stories - Pennsylvania - "Deep pockets show turnpike interest" New Hampshire - "Officials blamed for cash-strapped system" Massachusetts - "Tolls going up" Texas - "Tolls, tied-up traffic seen for future" New Jersey - "bridges need $13.5B makeover" Delaware - "That will cost you one arm, one leg" Arizona - "Legislature looks for ways to pay for new highways" Arizona - "Toll Roads, Tax Hikes Eyed as Road Funding Options" Louisiana - "Bridge chief slated for 24% raise" Maine - "For whom does the Turnpike toll?" Texas - "Wait times, hike in bridge fees a double whammy" Pennsylvania - "30 firms show interest in turnpike" New Hampshire - "Toll hike looks like it's a go" Washington State - "Environmental groups split on Proposition 1".
Casualties in Border Toll dispute
Venezuela Analysis - "Protesters Block Colombian-Venezuelan Border Crossings" El Universal - "Riots in Colombia-Venezuela border".
Monday 1 October 2007
Ken & Mike get together
Yesterday Mike was addressing the Tory Party conference. Today he met a blue in green and red clothing to discuss Con charging - International Herald Tribune / AP - "New York's Michael Bloomberg meets London mayor to talk green charges" London Mayor's press release.
PS
Mike praises the "effectiveness of London's congestion charging scheme" - BBC - "New York mayor praises c-charge". Who's the sucker? Is it Mike or the people back in New York who are fed myths and not facts?
Mike and Ken go by bus and get their picture taken - US Today - "NYC mayor: Get used to surveillance cameras".
Ken goes Car
Thanks to Brian for pointing out this story last week in Local Transport Today. At a recent meeting of the London Assembly, the Mayor appeared to back more roads as cars were getting even cleaner - "Clean cars will cancel climate case against new roads - Mayor".
Exeter Toll
What to us at least is new - Devon County Council are preparing a TIF Congestion bid based on a workplace parking levy or congestion charging - The Cornishman - "PAY TO PARK AT WORK PLAN".
Fuel tax up
Fuel taxes increase today. At least they do for roads users, everybody else pays little or no tax on fuel use - BBC - "Tax rise fuels petrol price fears". The new rate that applies to most vehicle fuels is 50.35 pence a litre. Assuming that average pump price for petrol will now be 97 pence a litre, then the VAT element will be 14.45 pence, giving total tax of 64.8 pence a litre (equivalent of a tax of 200 per cent on the untaxed cost).
USA round up
"What’s interesting .. is the presumption that people who use mass transit paid for by the taxpayers are somehow more virtuous than those of us who buy our own vehicles, pay to maintain them, and pay all manner of taxes for the privilege. Indeed, this may be the only case where those who rely on government for something feel smugly superior to those who pay their own way." - Outside the Beltway - "Commuting ressentiment".
Another World Net Daily report on the roads privatization conference - "A promise kept".
The recent Texas Transport Institute report on Congestion is still sparking a lot of "we must do something about it, like more tolls" stories, here is a different one - Cincinnati Post - "Traffic and the human condition".
One man's response to pro tolls views - Nashua Telegraph (New Hampshire) - "Merrimack man replies to ‘stop whining’ letter, defends toll actions ".
Other stories -
"More toll trouble for Pennsylvania" New York - "No toll hike" California - "South Bay toll lanes plan moves ahead" New Jersey - "On the road with Bob, Bing, Dorothy and Jon" New York - "No new tolls - Thruway Authority again reaches for motorists' wallets" New Jersey - "Release report - State Republicans right about toll study" New York - "Thruway tolls to rise; EZ Pass rebate to be cut" "Maine's toll-free Interstates should stay that way" Virginia - "Tolls studied to ease Hampton Roads traffic" Pennsylvania - "More toll trouble" Illinois - "Top Ill. toll cheats owe millions".
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