ITS (UK): Shift to emissions free vehicles will make road network funding unsustainable

Shortfalls in fuel tax caused by moving to emissions-free vehicles will make current ways of funding road networks unsustainable, according to a joint forum between ITS (UK) Road User Charging Interest Group and ITS Ireland hosted by Aecom, Dublin. The group consisted of policy makers, toll operators, payment providers and highway users from seven European countries.
November 30, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Shortfalls in fuel tax caused by moving to emissions-free vehicles will make current ways of funding road networks unsustainable, according to a joint forum between ITS (UK) Road User Charging Interest Group and 7075 ITS Ireland hosted by 3525 Aecom, Dublin. The group consisted of policy makers, toll operators, payment providers and highway users from seven European countries.


The forum discussed how declining revenues must be bridged by fair and equitable measures to fund increased demands for mobility and that different taxation models are required for the public to buy into needed change. In addition, plans need to be simply expressed and clearly communicated while tackling the complexities of gaps in infrastructure funding, toxic emissions and climate change.

Speakers pointed to a recent study by the UK National Infrastructure Commission which claimed that distance based charging and congestion measures would bring more reliable journeys and improve national productivity.

Public-private co-operation was also addressed by the group who highlighted a need to share information so that disruptive market developments can be integrated alongside legacy schemes to deliver timely mobility improvements while countering the risk of unintended negative consequences.

Keith Mortimer, chair of the Road User Charging Group said, “Environmental objectives make emissions-free driving essential, but the demand for mobility will only increase. The transition to road pricing is under way, offering positive outcomes that respect the legitimate aspirations of all stakeholders. Effective governance will capitalise on innovation to enhance economic performance and social well-being.”

Jennie Martin, ITS (UK) secretary general, added: “Working together, our specialists have identified key challenges facing transport and offered solutions and advice to help policy makers justify the necessary changes. Once again our collective expertise has helped tackle a difficult issue giving leadership to the industry.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ITS will help ‘fifth generation’ roads offer pan-European solution
    December 21, 2018
    The next generation of roads - the ‘fifth generation’ - will provide the world’s highway authorities with a big leap forward, delegates to the recent European Road Conference heard. Adewole Adesiyun, deputy secretary general at the Brussels-based Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL), said a paradigm shift is taking place, offering “solutions to existing and future problems with new ways to use smart, intelligent and dynamic technologies”. The first four generations of roa
    Read More
  • ANPR integrity is as important as capability
    February 1, 2012
    Increasing the capability of automatic number plate recognition should go hand-in-hand with efforts to ensure number plates' integrity, says the ESVA's Viv Nicholas. Before we apply increasingly sophisticated technology to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), says the European Secure Vehicle Alliance's (ESVA's) executive director Viv Nicholas, there is a lot we can do to make the task of vehicle recognition simpler by addressing issues relating to the number plate itself.
    Read More
  • ARTBA president: what happened to the hoverboards?
    October 28, 2019
    What keeps Dave Bauer up at night? David Arminas caught up with the head of ARTBA at his Washington, DC office during daylight hours Dave Bauer doesn’t really have many sleepless nights. He might sleep, though, with one eye open, just in case. “We have become a much more divided country politically,” says Bauer, president of ARTBA – American Road and Transportation Builders Association. “Whether you are thinking about federal government, or state or local government, there’s a hostility now in our politi
    Read More
  • Report highlights community impact of new mobility options
    March 29, 2018
    Local authorities and communities must understand the impacts of the new mobility options and regulate to get the transport systems they want, according to a new report. Colin Sowman takes a look. Outside of the big cities plagued with congestion, the existing transportation system(s) often cope adequately, and the ongoing workload (maintenance, safety…) is more than enough to keep local transport authorities busy. Is it, therefore, a good use of public service employees’ time to keep abreast of the raft
    Read More

Highlighted Content