Greater Manchester takes next step in major transport funding bid

Date article online: 24/01/2007

Greater Manchester leaders will meet on Friday 26 January to consider a report on the next step towards their July bid to the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund, which could be worth over £1 billion in transport improvements for the city region.

The report to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) outlines plans for a major public consultation in the spring. Residents, businesses and other stakeholders will be given the opportunity to have their say on plans to radically improve local transport aimed at securing Greater Manchester’s ongoing economic success.

The ten district leaders will also consider a set of principles which will provide the basis for the design of the charging scheme which will need to be fully evaluated as a next stage. A prerequisite for a charging scheme will be a range of public transport alternatives. The combined package would need to pass four tests* set by AGMA as well as being accepted by the public and businesses.

Work undertaken so far has established the key principles for the development of a "Smart Charging’ scheme. It would take advantage of the latest technology to target the car trips causing the greatest degree of congestion – whether to or from Manchester city centre or on other busy routes across the city region.
AGMA has already agreed that any such scheme would not be introduced on roads until those affected have a reliable, integrated public transport system which provides a genuine alternative to the car.

Lord Peter Smith, Chair of AGMA, said: "Greater Manchester has the fastest growing economy outside London and we want to build on this by creating more than 210,000 jobs over the next decade. Unchecked congestion is already starting to take its toll on both the economy and our environment and doing nothing is not an option. Whatever we do, we must satisfy ourselves that the growth path of the economy is protected and enhanced and that the measures we take to manage congestion maximise benefit for the local and global environment.

"We are developing ambitious plans to improve Greater Manchester’s transport network so that it offers a realistic alternative to the car for some journeys. The proposition which we are promoting is that car users who congest our roads should be required to pay back in a way that will benefit the economy and the environment. This will also help to ensure that they can make more informed decisions about how they travel."

Chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "We want the Transport Innovation Fund to revolutionise public transport in Greater Manchester by giving us access to over £1billion funding. We know that people will use buses, trains and trams if they are reliable and affordable and I am confident that – given the right levels of investment – we can achieve this.

"At the same time, it’s clear Government will only make this funding available if Greater Manchester makes a serious commitment to tackle the growing congestion on our roads. We need to make a strong bid that will help us deliver a first class public transport network to bolster the local economy."

Leader of Manchester City Council and Deputy Leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Sir Richard Leese said: "It’s clear that a London-style charging scheme - which imposes cost irrespective of time of day, length of journey, origin and destination - is not right for Greater Manchester. 

"If road charging is to work in this area, we have to tackle congestion both now and in the future.  Any charging scheme must therefore take into account the time of day, length of journey, origin and destination as well as the impact on communities and key workers.  Greater influence over the bus network, local rail and the strategic highways network is also a vital pre-requisite.

"There will be a major public consultation in the spring so that residents, businesses and other stakeholders can give an informed opinion about our proposals for the charging scheme and for the improvements to the public transport network."

The report states that if no action is taken to address road congestion and improve public transport, Greater Manchester can expect to underachieve employment growth by up to 30,000 jobs in the next decade.

* The four AGMA tests are:

1. There must be significant investment in public transport improvements including Metrolink and enhanced capacity must be in place prior to introducing a charging scheme.
2. Measures must complement the competitiveness and inclusion priorities of the sub-region and not undermine the competitiveness of the regional centre or the town centres in the area.
3. Measures must be acceptable, both to the public and also to the business community.
4. Measures must be relevant to where congestion exists or where it may emerge in the future notwithstanding the advent of public transport improvements.