Key information
Request reference number: MGLA160123-7550
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
Can you tell me what was the total cost of setting up the current ULEZ zone, its yearly running costs and how much has been currently raised to date, money received and not outstanding fines, also what is the current cost of setting up the expanded ULEZ zone and its running costs per year?
Our response
Please note that the GLA does not hold the information to be able to respond to your questions in full. However, much of what you have requested is already publicly available. Where that is the case, I have included the links to these sources. Transport for London (TfL) is the Mayor's transport authority and is responsible for implementing the Mayor's Transport Strategy, and for the day-to-day operational running of transport services, including road user charging schemes such as the ULEZ. You may wish to send a further request to TfL.
Existing ULEZ costs and revenue The implementation costs for the October 2021 ULEZ expansion to inner London were £115 million. This cost includes staffing, marketing, and the signs, cameras and back-office systems needed to make the scheme operational. The Mayor and TfL sought to deliver the infrastructure needed to operate the scheme in the most cost-effective way possible. The ULEZ expansion was delivered on time and under budget.
TfL publishes quarterly ULEZ factsheets that are available in the Finance, Operations and Performance section of its website at: Ultra Low Emission Zone - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk). These factsheets include the number of average daily £12.50 charges paid and the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued per month. Prior to 30 January 2023, a ULEZ PCN has been £160, reducing to £80 if paid within 14 days.
TfL publishes details of income from all road user charging schemes, including the ULEZ, in its Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which is available on the TfL website at: Annual Report - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk). Expected costs and income for future years are published in TfL’s Budget, Business Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan which, are available here: Budget and Business Plan - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk).
London-wide ULEZ expected costs Based on current assumptions made, the estimated costs to set up the expanded London-wide ULEZ are in the range of £150m-£160m. This includes costs of signage, detection and enforcement infrastructure, marketing, project overheads and risk. Separately, the Mayor is providing funding for a £110m scrappage scheme. As noted above, expected costs and income for future years are published in TfL’s Budget, Business Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan, which are available here: Budget and Business Plan - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)