The President-elect's team have asked an American consultant who helped draw up the proposed charge to provide information about this scheme and similar systems around the world.
Jack Opiola - who previously worked on congestion charging in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Italy and the US - said the move proved `the eyes of the world' were on Manchester. He said: "In the US, Greater Manchester is being held up as a shining example of dynamic new thinking."
Mr Obama, who takes over at the White House on January 20 after his historic election victory last week, stood on a manifesto that included pledges to cut traffic and boost public transport.
He recently praised plans - which were later scrapped - to charge motorists to enter Manhattan in New York as 'thoughtful and innovative'.
Mr Opiola said: "I was 'noticed' by key people in the Obama campaign and I have been providing input to his strategy team in Chicago, including information about Greater Manchester's bid.
"Manchester's approach is being highlighted as the latest thinking and conceptual approach that is beyond the earlier concepts used in Milan, Stockholm, London and Singapore, which are previous generations of congestion-charge systems."
Greater Manchester is bidding for more than £2.75bn of investment from the government's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF), including £318m to set up a peak hour, weekday-only congestion charge. Of the total, £1.2bn would be in the form of a loan, paid back over 30 years out of profits from the charge.
A postal referendum begins later this month, with results declared on December 12. Residents in seven of the 10 council areas in Greater Manchester must say `yes' for the bid to go ahead.
A number of American cities are already looking at congestion charging.
David Horner, the current US assistant secretary of transportation policy, specifically mentioned Greater Manchester's scheme as one which could be used in a large area around Seattle. Feasibility studies are also being drawn up in Southern California and Chicago.
A previous attempt to introduce a charge in New York in return for £225m of transport funding was thrown out by the state assembly. Mayor Michael Bloomberg later blasted assembly members as `cowards'.
Click here for the c-charge story so far
TIF documents released under the Freedom of Information Act
Click here to read David Ottewell's politics blog
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Rimsky (11/11/2008 at 07:49)
I am sure that with the impending vote, the figures will be fudged or the criteria changed to push this new tax through so Manchester can have more money wasted on something to try and make it an international player in all things.
Jack of all trades and master of none.
Peter (11/11/2008 at 07:58)
If the Americans think it is a good idea then it must be. After all they are a benchmark to forward thinking........not - country where gun is king, the flat earth society thrives and inflicted Billy Ray Cyrus on the world. I find it particularly hard to believe that the geographically challenged Americans even know where Manchester is.
shayla (11/11/2008 at 08:12)
The lab rats living in Manchester should be the only people who's opinion you should be looking at.
Just because most of don't agree with it, stop looking for supporters elsewhere to justify your actions.
NO - IT'S A CON.
John - sheikhing all over (11/11/2008 at 08:14)
well done to the yes promoters for getting this in the news.
pity that the Americans will vote NO.
they hate taxes and love their cars more.
save the whale.
give them a deeper and expanded ocean to swim round in... ;-)
Polky (11/11/2008 at 08:15)
Yes?
Bribe the electorate rather than having a poll and ignoring the opinions of your masters... which may still happen, whatever the outcome of the poll.
feston gonzalez (11/11/2008 at 08:23)
what they should be saying is "Manchester is being held up as a shining example of how to rip people off as they try to earn a living"
VOTE NO
Trumpetman21 (11/11/2008 at 08:26)
VOTE NO - you know it makes sense.
Pentest 2, Hyde (11/11/2008 at 08:29)
Just Vote 'NO'
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (11/11/2008 at 08:44)
Jay B, oldham (11/11/2008 at 08:48)
especially with all the scandal behind it.
the only thing i believe in now is to vote no.
PW, Manchester (11/11/2008 at 08:53)
As someone has rightly said, if I need to get from A to B, and public transport can do that for me - great! But I will not be going from A to E to D to C to get to B. I have better uses for my free time, thanks! Vote NO! and give yourself choices!
Rammylad (11/11/2008 at 08:59)
Funny how this item has not made it to even one US news channel. Perhaps he really isn't thinking about this but theyes campaign want us to believe he is.
Lizzie Tickles Little Lad, A-u-L, Lancashire (11/11/2008 at 09:26)
I believe that this is more about Jack Opiolo (see Tollroad News 27-10-2006 Jack Opiola disagrees on the future of toll technology than it is about the bid. I hope he can learn from the abject failings of the Pro-camp. Their designing of a system which is not tailored to the needs of the area and is so heavily biased in favour of the most costly form of transport to provide (iron horses on rails.
johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (11/11/2008 at 09:27)
Trueman (11/11/2008 at 09:29)
Thats the daftest thing i;ve read since Laura Whatsit exit from X factor was brought up in..... Parliament. Whats that all about.
I know plenty of Americans and despite their persona not a chance would they vote for congestion charging. They'd marry their cars if they could. Im sure its legal in some states.
Technobabble, Manchester (11/11/2008 at 09:31)
No false modesty there then....
Frostee, Oldham (11/11/2008 at 09:32)
Well that's odd because we don't even know if they'll work here yet!
This is a lot of hype dreamt up by the pro-charge team that are getting increasingly worried as the voting deadline approaches. They will seemingly do anything to get their scheme sanctioned - even if it means playing on Barak Obama's name. Pathetic!
johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (11/11/2008 at 09:40)
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (11/11/2008 at 09:40)
Have you thought about the implications of such a statement? Are you saying tax payers money should be used to make sure everyone can own and operate a car so transport has no cost to the user? Do you know what that would do?
Just when I thought I read all the barmy statements there were to read, the MEN board does it again.
Kevin Peel, Manchester (11/11/2008 at 09:41)
America realised that the status quo simply wouldn't do anymore and opted to say YES WE CAN. Now Greater Manchester needs to do the same.
Tony North-Hearn, Stockport (11/11/2008 at 09:45)
john berta (11/11/2008 at 09:50)
The eyes of John Whittaker and Peel are on the Trafford Centre.
The eyes of the antis are on their wallets and purses.
Vote Yes!
PS. All of a sudden the MEN is now supporting TIF according to you anti's. How come you lot weren't moaning before when the headlines were in your favour?
Moan. moan, moan. That's all you antis have done. Yawn!
Alec (11/11/2008 at 09:57)
lindsey kell (11/11/2008 at 10:06)
Lets embrace this referedum for what it really is- the best chance in a generation to vastly improve public transport for our area.
YES, WE CAN!
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (11/11/2008 at 10:12)
Leese even has the cheek to talk on behalf of the Messiah and say he is going to vote yes
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/blog/leadersblog/post/220
Shame that his infrastructure plans includes massive ROAD investment as well. Small Town Manchester forgot about the roads bit in this plan.