Charge is key to £3bn transport revolution

Alan Salter

May 26, 2007

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Metrolink network

THE flipside of Greater Manchester's congestion charge coin has been revealed - a £3bn revolution in the city's transport network.

If the public and the government agrees, not only will the area become the first outside London to charge motorists for using the roads, it will also see the biggest ever improvement of public transport in the country, increasing rush-hour capacity by a huge 40 per cent.

The planned congestion charge will cost up to £5 a day.

But the bonus will be extra tramlines, including adding the Trafford Centre and Stockport to new Metrolink lines planned to Ashton, East Didsbury, Wythenshawe, the airport, and Oldham and Rochdale.

There will also be a second city centre line because the network will be too big for the current single line to handle.

A new nine-mile separate bus lane between Manchester and Bolton would also be built.

And the long-awaited Leigh guided busway will introduce a new bus lane on part of the East Lancs Road more than 10 years after the idea was first hatched.

Overcrowded

Hundreds of new trains will be brought in to ease overcrowding and there will also be improvements to railway stations and interchanges at Altrincham, Bolton, Manchester, Rochdale and Wigan. The number of park-and-ride spaces will be doubled. The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) revealed the details of the public transport improvements - and congestion charge - which it plans to put forward as the basis of a £1bn bid to the government's transport innovation fund.

The AGMA also wants to borrow £2bn more from the government against the projected 30 years' income from the charge which will probably start in 2012. It will cost almost £470m to set up but is expected to bring in £118m a year to spend on public transport.

Congestion charges - enforced via electronic tags on drivers' windscreens - would only apply on weekdays inbound from 7am to 9.30am and outbound between 4pm and 6.30pm. Inbound charges in the morning would be £2 for crossing the outer boundary and another £1 for entering the inner core. There would be charges of £1 for crossing each charging point on the way home.

Lord Peter Smith, leader of AGMA, said: "If we fail to address road congestion, Greater Manchester could miss out on 30,000 jobs over the next 15 years. We believe that doing nothing would be the most dangerous decision of all."

Chris Fletcher, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce policy director, said: "What we need to ensure is that any scheme deals with congestion without harming future economic growth." But campaign group Safe Speed said drivers would be 'taxed to the eyeballs'.

Articles

Bosses split over c-charge plans

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transit, manchester england (26/05/2007 at 17:15)

any business with sense will move away now before it starts. otherwise the costs will have to be added in to the overheads,meaning prices rise.

Dave Sherwood (26/05/2007 at 17:58)

Where do they get the number of lost jobs at over 30,000. I can see more jobs lost through people and businesses moving out of town. What about the poor people who live in or very near Central Manchester. Home values are going to drop like a brick.

ruth davis (26/05/2007 at 18:04)

What about the disabled, some people cannot travel on Public transport.They say vunerable groups will get a discount,but even a small charge adds to disabled on low income.I myself am a nurse and I have to go in and out of the city around 15 times a week, this could cost me extra expense.

northy, Stockport (26/05/2007 at 18:12)

I live in stockport and have to travel to higher Broughton,which means I will have to gone in and out of both zones twice a day (Morning and Evening),which is going to work out around £10.00 a day if they charge everytime I enter and leave a zone.

Bobby (26/05/2007 at 18:21)

I now live in Cadishead,the metrolink end in Eccles,buses are terrible.When they decide to turn up they are dirty,smelly and very late.Trains are not an option it is a bus ride or a 40 minute walk to the station.I work in Eccles so I will have to pass under the M60 and so be charged to to go to Hope Hospital.

ace, manchester (26/05/2007 at 18:22)

I hope that all the office workers and people who have to get into the city reschedule their working hours after 10am .. work around this stupid tax...That will cost jobs.

northy, Stockport (26/05/2007 at 18:32)

If you do not want the
Congestion charge the look at
www.petitiononline.com/mancong/

northy, Stockport (26/05/2007 at 19:10)

www.petitiononline.com/mancong/

This link takes you to a online Congestion petition.

jottamong, Manchester (26/05/2007 at 20:16)

When I'll get older, I'll become an architect so feel free to catch me if you can because my personal occupation describes relaying out roads and tracks.

Jake Long, City Centre, Manchester (26/05/2007 at 20:32)

I do not see why I should have to pay for somebody else's mode of transport, which is exactly what I would be doing if I paid a congestion charge in order to improve public transport.

I have asked people who support this scheme to explain to my why it would be acceptable for me to pay for somebody else's mode of transport and they have NEVER replied, which just goes to show that there is no justification for it.

There is no point getting worked up about it, but just like the fact that I will never have an ID card, neither will I ever pay to enter or leave the city centre. They can pursue me all they like, but the best that they can hope for is a huge and expensive legal battle; so to GMPTA - Just Try It!!!

Rachel, Manchester (26/05/2007 at 23:02)

I want to see bus prices come right down to no more than £1 return within Greater Manchester and £5 for a week ticket. Stagecoach bus fares are already too high and they infuriatingly put them up and up every few months. They are always overpacked at rush hour, hot and uncomfortable and are often used by weirdos and threatening yobs. I sometimes don't feel safe travelling on the buses. I won't be able to afford a congestion charge, but what about people who have no choice but to travel at the peak times to get to work? We can't all be flexible. I think I will have to move out of Manchester and get a job somewhere else.

adey, oldham (27/05/2007 at 02:39)

how much of this £3bn will actually be spent on transport, not the fat cats?

callufrax (27/05/2007 at 06:18)

I think these new plans for the Manchester congestion charge are fair and quite workable. We Mancunians demand a good public transport system, but we also have to realise that we need pay for it. You can't get something for nothing. The same people complaining, now, about a congestion charge will be the same ones complaining, in the future, about a poor public transport system if the congestion charge didn't go ahead.

Bobby (27/05/2007 at 10:12)

When the congestion charge is introduced, how much will it cost to use public transport.At present myself and three other people take it in turns to travel into central Manchester in each others vehicles,this cost each about £5.00 per week.This could cost us £5.00 per day to travel on bus and train.Travelling by car is cheaper.

come-on-city (27/05/2007 at 10:57)

We've heard it all before!! I bet not even a quarter of that amount will go to public transport.

North-Hearn, Stockport (27/05/2007 at 12:02)

It has been proved time and time again, you cannot trust a word from a Labour council.They give us promises and then they say they changed their mind for the public good.Its ok for these councillors like Leese and co, they can claim it back in expensesm using more of the tax payers money.

John Austin (27/05/2007 at 13:06)

Being a non-driver, I'm not too sure how the scheme will work, but my partner drives from Droylsden to Wythenshawe every day, usually via the Mancunian Way, then up the Parkway. Any ideas how much this is likely to cost?

Sid (27/05/2007 at 13:39)

I think they should halt all building work now in the city centre because they will not be needed and what is there now will become vacant. If anyone has got property in the city my advise would be to sell it while you can, quick.

Chris, Irlam (27/05/2007 at 14:52)

We want a referednum on this - a referendum is the ONLY way to see if the public approve of this or not. Anything else is simply ignoring the wishes of the 2.6 million Greater Manchester residents.

What say you, Toll Tax supporters?

Chris, Irlam (27/05/2007 at 15:04)

Can any of this scheme's cheerleaders tell me why motorcycles are not exempt?

Also, why does a 5-litre Hummer pay the same as a 1-litre Aygo?

Not exactly promoting the idea of greener vehicles this Toll Tax is it?

Tony North-Hearn, Stockport (27/05/2007 at 15:11)

Chris,Irlam. Lord Peter Smith, leader of AGMA will not let us have a referendum,he says the public are too negative,he means we dont see his side of the arguement.He will only hold ballots he can win.

Ron Silver (27/05/2007 at 15:17)

When they introduce the charge watch the bus and train fares shoot up.The fares now are scandalous.To use my car for three people cost around £11.00 per week, the same on public transport would cost around £40.00 for the same three people.

more facts and less tax (27/05/2007 at 15:31)

The Eccles tram line cost £160 million, thats £25k a foot step(metre) or £7.50 for every person who has ever travelled on it. Just imagine what Jolly Roger and his mates at the GMPTA could do with £3 Thousand million ? Thats a lot of debt for us tax payers ! Metro psychosis is a real mental condition exhibited by people with too much time on their hands. Council pen pushers !

Simon B, Warrington (27/05/2007 at 15:48)

Unless we actually turn out in our thousands to protest against all this talking is for nothing.

We need to turn up in ours thousands in places like St Peter Square and Piccadilly gardens in Manchester.

Use our cars to bring Manchester to grinding halt.

Have go slow protests like the fuel protestors on the motorways.

Have a Boycott Manchester day.

Physical action is all this government will understand.

Jam Buster (27/05/2007 at 16:42)

Usual suspects with their selfish, ill-informed, comments.

Look at the reality - pollution from traffic jams and large numbers of cars, improved bus services blocked by selfish motorists, economic expansion being held back by jams, etc.

The proposals have to be seriously looked at, not the selfish views of a prejudiced group of out of touch individuals.

Spend on Metrolink, spend on buses, spend on trains - it is the only way forward!

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