Skip to main content

Wales considers road user charging options

The Welsh government has commissioned an independent review into road user charging to understand how such demand management approaches can aid the transition to more sustainable transport.
By Ben Spencer March 20, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
The Severn Bridge: one of the major transport links between Wales and England (© Matthew Dixon | Dreamstime.com)

Wales lies to the west of England and is part of the UK.

The review is expected to provide information on the wider economic implications of road user charging in the context of issues arising from the border with England while also offering lessons learned from the implementation of similar schemes in the rest of the UK or internationally. 

Part of the review will assess the options and costs of different technologies while also making the case for a national framework for road user charging policies to prevent drivers from having to pay more than one charge. 

Ken Skates, minister for economy, transport and North Wales, said in a statement: “It is intended that the review will report this autumn and it will help inform our national and regional policy on this issue in the context of the ongoing work of the South East Wales Transport Commission and the consideration of congestion charging by Cardiff Council.”

“This could include a range of possible objectives such as alleviating congestion, improving air quality or reducing carbon emissions, increasing rates of active travel, encouraging modal shift and travel behaviours – such as travel to school,” he adds. 


 

Related Content

  • August 7, 2019
    Videalert: Bath experience highlights joined-up thinking
    Councils can achieve greater value with multi-purpose traffic enforcement and management platforms, says Tim Daniels of Videalert. But UK authorities could also help deliver solutions by committing to ‘joined up thinking’... Joined-up thinking’ used to be a commonly related governmental phrase and implied a commitment to looking at elements of a problem to deliver a holistic solution. However, the way that successive governments have addressed major issues has demonstrated their inability to achieve join
  • February 20, 2018
    UK lane rental schemes set to go nationwide to help reduce congestion
    UK lane rental schemes, where utility companies can be charged up to £2,500 ($3,499) each day for digging up the busiest roads at peak times, can be adopted by councils as part of a government approved strategy to help reduce congestion. The announcement follows successful trials conducted in London and Kent. This scheme aims to incentivise firms to work on quieter roads or outside of rush hour as well as collaborate with other companies to prevent roads from being dug up multiple times. Around 2.5 mi
  • January 6, 2022
    Arup picks 8 ways ITS can save the planet
    The solutions we need to accelerate carbon-free transport are known, available and ready to be deployed. Tim Gammons from Arup explains what the ITS industry can do now to help…
  • January 31, 2023
    EIT Mobility’s A-Z of Uvar
    Well-implemented vehicle mobility schemes offer cities quick ways to improve the quality of urban life - and now EIT Mobility has written a guide to doing so. Andrew Stone has a read…