What could be the benefits of a congestion charge?
Our research has shown that improvements to public transport, cycling and walking facilities on their own may not be enough to address the congestion problem we face. We need to take action now to ensure it does not get any worse.
Delays and unreliable journey times affect us all and are costing businesses in the area real money.
With a congestion charge, traffic levels would reduce so that they would be similar to levels during the school holidays. Compared to now:
- Delays at junctions would decrease by 30%
- There would be a 20% decrease in overall travel time spent on the roads in Cambridge
- CO2 emissions would decrease by 16%
How could a charge work?
- Research has shown that a charge for two hours in the morning rush hour, Monday to Friday, say from 7.30-9.30am, would tackle congestion over the whole day
- The cost would need to be between £3 and £5 a day for it to work
- Cars travelling into, out of or within the congestion zone would be charged once a day
To view a map showing the proposed zone covered by the congestion charge, click on the link on the right.