Manchester Unlocking the Citys potential the role of congestion charging

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Manchester Unlocking the Citys potential - the
role of congestion charging

• Keith Howcroft
• Deputy Head of Transport, Manchester City Council

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The Manchester City Region The economic engine
of the North

• Former home of the first industrial revolution
• Now at the heart of the most important economic
  area in Northern England
• 50bn-plus GVA
• Identified as the UK city with greatest potential
  outside London

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The Manchester Economic Vision Building on
strong foundations

• Global reputation in key growth sectors
• Financial and professional services
• Life science industries
• Creative/Digital/New Media
• ICT Digital/Communications
• Manufacturing
• International airport and world-class
  universities
• Commuting base of over 3 million people
• Strong public/private sector working to deliver
  priorities
• Potential for more than 200,000 new jobs over 15
  years

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The Manchester Economic Vision Clear
priorities for the future

• Comprehensive growth programme for growth
• Meeting employer skills needs
• Combating worklessness
• Securing housing for growth
• Fostering entrepreneurialism
• Reducing economic disparities
• Expending gateways to the Region
• Securing integrated urban transport

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Transport challenges of growthUK National Policy

• 2004 Transport White Paper role of transport
  policy in sustainable growth
• 2006 Eddington Study importance of urban
  connectivity to the economy
• Transport Innovation Fund
• Major new funding source for urban transport
  investment and congestion charging schemes
• Government seeking innovative solutions to
  congestion problems, involving demand management
  measures
• The only central Government source for
  step-change transport investment packages

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Transport challenges of growth Manchester
Approach - the Tipping Point

• Manchester growth strategy aimed to decouple
  traffic congestion from growth
• Tipping Point identified where congestion
  could constrain the rate of growth
• A genuine threat in 10-15 years, due to current
  limited capacity on local public transport and
  highway networks
• Growth could be undershot by up to 30,000 jobs
• Solution requires both transport investment and
  demand management (congestion charging)
• Clear conclusion of the need to act now to secure
  the future potential of the city region

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The Manchester Way Clear rules from the outset

• Policy basis for charging enshrined in four clear
  tests
• Significant investment in public transport
  improvements must be in place first
• Measures must complement City Region
  competitiveness and inclusion priorities
• Measures must be widely accepted by public and
  business
• Measures must relate to where congestion exists
  or may emerge in the future
• Panel of business leaders to supervise
  performance against tests

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The Manchester Way An investment-led approach

• Transport Innovation Fund provides opportunity
  for investment-led, package-based approach
• Prudential borrowing strategy enables future
  charging revenues to be invested up-front
• Presentation of labour-market connectivity
  benefits for investment
• Enables clear identification of economic value of
  public transport schemes
• Provides demonstration of ability to secure
  long-term growth

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The Manchester Way Keeping all stakeholders
involved

• Maintaining stakeholder trust is seen as critical
  
• Commitments on acceptability testing have been
  well received
• Strategy includes reformed governance system to
  provide new levels of accountability and business
  involvement
• Public awareness campaigns have assisted
  community acceptance
• Sectoral business engagement has supported
  understanding of industry-specific benefits

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The Manchester Way Securing a political consensus

• Manchester city region complex arrangement of
  ten boroughs
• Recent history of maturing relationship and
  closer working on strategic issues
• Congestion charging poses a significant political
  challenge, requiring
• Focus on ensuring that all boroughs benefit from
  the strategy
• Communications techniques to maximise recognition
  of borough-level benefits
• Ongoing liaison with key opinion-formers

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The Manchester StrategyA 3 billion investment
package

• Large-scale expansion of city region tram network
• New rolling stock capacity across all urban rail
  lines
• Major investment in gateway rail stations
• Revitalised bus network, including new yellow
  school bus fleets
• New high quality transport interchange schemes
• Doubling of park and ride capacity
• Electronic public transport ticketing and
  information solutions

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The Manchester StrategyInnovative Congestion
Charging

• Cordon based scheme
• Tag and beacon technology
• Offers versatility across users
• Ensures minimal administration costs

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Conclusions

• Package approaches to congestion charging and
  investment can reinforce the economic vitality of
  cities, but
• Cities need to tailor the design of charging
  schemes to local circumstances
• And, people need to see tangible benefits
• Investment must precede charging
• Cities need to bank future revenues to invest in
  advance
• Business needs to see economic arguments that
  mean something to them (e.g. improved labour
  markets)
• All stakeholders needs have to be addressed and
  communicated

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Thank you

• Keith Howcroft
• Deputy Head of Transport,
• Manchester City Council