News from Caroline Russell: Boundary charge must be stepping stone to smarter ideas

Non-Londoners could pay a £3.50 charge for driving into the capital, if the Mayor adopts the recommendation from an independent review of options for funding London’s transport.

The proposal comes after years of pressure from Caroline Russell AM for the Mayor to come forward with proposals for smarter charging measures.

Smart, fair, privacy-friendly road pricing is a much more sophisticated alternative to a boundary charge or area charge scheme like the existing Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone charges in London.

At present people driving in London, whether they are residents or not, are only contributing to the Mayor’s budget for Transport for London – which funds most major road infrastructure in London – when they drive into the centre and pay a congestion or ULEZ charge. Today’s proposal also includes returning vehicle excise duty paid by London drivers to London.

Caroline Russell says:

A boundary charge, though it could have been brought in years ago, is a first step towards smarter and fairer ways of reducing traffic and pollution using modern technology.

In the end, we need a smart, fair, privacy-friendly road charging system that recognises vehicle emissions, congestion and time of day to use pricing to clean up London’s filthy air and traffic clogged streets. The Mayor must work on smart options as well, we can’t go on forever with blunt, area-based charges for drivers.

A transport system fit for a zero-carbon future needs big investment and it is only right that people driving start to pay their way. The many people choosing every day to use the tube and bus or to walk and cycle are what really keeps London moving.