TRAFFIC levels in Greater Manchester are not soaring - despite warnings the region's economy could be crippled without a congestion charge.

Supporters of the controversial levy claim increasing gridlock on our roads could cost 30,000 jobs in the next 15 years.

But official figures obtained by the MEN show traffic flow FELL by one per cent on B roads across Greater Manchester and rose by less than one per cent on A roads last year.

On motorways, which would fall outside the planned charging zone, the figures showed an increase of just one per cent.

The new data has been released by the traffic unit of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) - the same coalition of councils that plans to introduce the charge in return for £3bn of public transport improvements.

Traffic was surveyed on 93 A roads and 69 B roads spread across Greater Manchester, together with six sites on the M60, two on the M62, two on the M6 and one on the M56.

Vehicles were counted manually, round-the-clock, throughout the year, to give a comprehensive picture of road use across the region.

Traffic flow

The figures show that the average 24-hour traffic flow on the motorways rose from 97,524 to 98,549 in 2007.

There were year-on-year rises of three per cent from 5pm-6pm and four per cent from 6pm-7pm - but traffic was down by four per cent from 7am-8am and 8am-9am.

On A roads there was a different pattern. Total traffic flow was up from 18,001 in 2006 to 18,070 last year, with a three per cent increase from 7am-8am but a one per cent drop from 5pm-6pm.

And on B roads, the average 24-hour total dropped from 10,748 to 10,675 with year-on-year decreases at 7am-8pm (down 1 per cent) and 8am to 9am (down two per cent). Afternoon peak traffic flow on B roads was up one per cent on 2006 between 5pm-6pm but almost exactly the same as before at 6pm-7pm.

The figures come at a delicate time, with consultation having just begun on the charge-for-£3bn proposal.

All 1.2m households across the region have been sent a brochure outlining the plans, together with the economic case for pressing ahead.

AGMA, made up of the 10 councils in Greater Manchester, will make a final decision in October - although Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese is pressing for a binding region-wide referendum before then.

Speeds

The brochure claims traffic in Greater Manchester has grown by 12 per cent in 10 years and traffic speeds are falling by 2.5 per cent each year.

"Doing nothing [about congestion] is not a viable option," it says.

A number of high-profile backers of the bid - including AGMA leader Lord Peter Smith, transport minister Rosie Winterton, Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd and former passenger transport authority chairman Roger Jones - have claimed 30,000 of the 210,000 jobs due to be created in Greater Manchester by 2021 could be lost to clogged roads.

A TIF bid spokesman said: “There has been a significant increase in the amount of traffic in Greater Manchester over the last decade or so, driven by economic growth and this has matched national trends. Traffic on local motorways has increased by 50% since 1993, with overall traffic growing by 21 per cent.

“We have managed to accommodate this economic growth and the associated demand for travel through capacity on our public transport and other transport improvements, including the completion of the M60 and other local traffic management schemes.


“Growth in travel to the city centre has not resulted in an increase in cars entering the city centre due in part to the completion of the Manchester -

Salford Inner Relief Route
, and partly due to a switch to public transport.


“But this public transport capacity has now been taken up at peak times, with crowding levels on Metrolink and rail restricting growth. Hence further growth is now likely to have to rely on bus and car, leading to a return to increasing congestion towards the city centre.


Radical

“What is needed is a long term strategy to deliver 210,000 new jobs across the city region and we currently do not have the capacity to do this without a radical transformation of Greater Manchester’s public transport system.


“This needs an integrated approach to accommodating future transport demands and it is for this reason we have specifically designed the congestion charging scheme at peak times and with the peak flow of traffic only.


“It is also why a high proportion of the high quality public transport alternatives within the TIF package are aimed at providing commuters with a real alternative to car travel on these roads at these times.


“We would encourage people to refer to the information set out in our consultation document, which clearly states what is happening in Greater Manchester and it is these figures which are driving our approach, not a blanket and short term view of the city region as a whole.


“People can find out more about the TIF proposals by going online at www.gmfuture.co.uk, by ringing the information line on 0800 234 6100 or visiting the exhibition which will be touring Greater Manchester over the next three months - further details of times and locations are available on the website."

What do you think? Have your say.