British Roads are !$?.. as written today
Discussion
Britain's transport infrastructure is "not fit for purpose", with the cost of congestion likely to soon exceed the current figure of £20 billion a year, a report from a centre-right think tank said.
Britain had the most crowded and congested roads, the fewest motorways and "some of the worst public transport" among leading industrialised countries, the report from Policy Exchange said.
Congestion was now endemic, affecting not just large cities but also motorways and small towns, added the report, which was produced in co-operation with task management company Serco and law firm Bevan Brittan LLP.
"Relatively small" road charging schemes on congestion hotspots would soon pay for improvements, the report said.
For example, a six-hour peak time weekday charge of 10p per kilometre (10p/km) on a six-lane motorway priced to run close to capacity could in a year raise around £1.5 million per km - sufficient to pay for widening to eight lanes or, to construct a brand new six-lane motorway in parallel, the report said.
A charge of 5p/km for cars and light vans and 10p/km for goods vehicles on all roads could, in a year, raise over £25 billion - enough to pay for the construction of 1,200 miles of six-lane motorway.
In context, this would mean that a doubling in the size of the current motorway network could be paid for in under two years.
Policy Exchange chief economist Dr Oliver Hartwich said: "Britain's transport infrastructure is, quite simply, not fit for purpose and unable to meet the needs of a modern country. Transport infrastructure investment has become detached from consumer demand."
Policy Exchange said the deficiencies of UK transport infrastructure were not reflected in a shortage of tax revenues from transport. In 2006 private road users paid around £32 billion in transport-related taxes. Of this, just £8 billion was spent on the road network.
Policy Exchange added that of this £8 billion - which is enough in theory to construct at least 400 miles of six-lane motorway - a large proportion was spent on repairing damage to the roads and another significant portion on anti-traffic and safety measures.
Britain had the most crowded and congested roads, the fewest motorways and "some of the worst public transport" among leading industrialised countries, the report from Policy Exchange said.
Congestion was now endemic, affecting not just large cities but also motorways and small towns, added the report, which was produced in co-operation with task management company Serco and law firm Bevan Brittan LLP.
"Relatively small" road charging schemes on congestion hotspots would soon pay for improvements, the report said.
For example, a six-hour peak time weekday charge of 10p per kilometre (10p/km) on a six-lane motorway priced to run close to capacity could in a year raise around £1.5 million per km - sufficient to pay for widening to eight lanes or, to construct a brand new six-lane motorway in parallel, the report said.
A charge of 5p/km for cars and light vans and 10p/km for goods vehicles on all roads could, in a year, raise over £25 billion - enough to pay for the construction of 1,200 miles of six-lane motorway.
In context, this would mean that a doubling in the size of the current motorway network could be paid for in under two years.
Policy Exchange chief economist Dr Oliver Hartwich said: "Britain's transport infrastructure is, quite simply, not fit for purpose and unable to meet the needs of a modern country. Transport infrastructure investment has become detached from consumer demand."
Policy Exchange said the deficiencies of UK transport infrastructure were not reflected in a shortage of tax revenues from transport. In 2006 private road users paid around £32 billion in transport-related taxes. Of this, just £8 billion was spent on the road network.
Policy Exchange added that of this £8 billion - which is enough in theory to construct at least 400 miles of six-lane motorway - a large proportion was spent on repairing damage to the roads and another significant portion on anti-traffic and safety measures.
[quote=Oat$y]For example, a six-hour peak time weekday charge of 10p per kilometre (10p/km) on a six-lane motorway priced to run close to capacity could in a year raise around £1.5 million per km - sufficient to pay for widening to eight lanes or, to construct a brand new six-lane motorway in parallel, the report said.
A charge of 5p/km for cars and light vans and 10p/km for goods vehicles on all roads could, in a year, raise over £25 billion - enough to pay for the construction of 1,200 miles of six-lane motorway.
In context, this would mean that a doubling in the size of the current motorway network could be paid for in under two years.
[/quote]
Well, if the cost of installing and running such a project is anything like that of the London congestion charge, then one can expect the profit to be in the region of two & sixpence per annum!
A charge of 5p/km for cars and light vans and 10p/km for goods vehicles on all roads could, in a year, raise over £25 billion - enough to pay for the construction of 1,200 miles of six-lane motorway.
In context, this would mean that a doubling in the size of the current motorway network could be paid for in under two years.
[/quote]
Well, if the cost of installing and running such a project is anything like that of the London congestion charge, then one can expect the profit to be in the region of two & sixpence per annum!
robinhood21 said:
Well, if the cost of installing and running such a project is anything like that of the London congestion charge, then one can expect the profit to be in the region of two & sixpence per annum!
yup, and Serco will be right up there in the bidding for the contract too....it's all bull,the goverment starve *all* transport of money, then use the state of it to justifty TAX on the bassis of congestion and green policies.
the money we all pay in fuel duty etc, would have paid for the best road and rail systems in the world if they were not such incopendant ***ers intent on feathering their own nests (Mr Blair being the prime example...)
[quote=Oat$y]For example, a six-hour peak time weekday charge of 10p per kilometre (10p/km) on a six-lane motorway priced to run close to capacity could in a year raise around £1.5 million per km - sufficient to pay for widening to eight lanes or, to construct a brand new six-lane motorway in parallel, the report said.
[/quote]
How come that won't quote? the formatting is correct?
But they won't use the revenue raised to do that though, they look at charging as a form of deterent to stop people from using the roads in the first place. Not a penny will be reinvested in the roads infrastructure.
[/quote]
How come that won't quote? the formatting is correct?
But they won't use the revenue raised to do that though, they look at charging as a form of deterent to stop people from using the roads in the first place. Not a penny will be reinvested in the roads infrastructure.
Edited by Balmoral Green on Tuesday 15th January 22:03
Edited by Balmoral Green on Tuesday 15th January 22:04
Probably everybody who uses this forum would agree. Why do we let the politicians get away with it. They seem to forget that they work for us and not the other way round. Can you imagine the French letting their 'leaders' getting away with what we let ours do. And not just on this issue
We should take to the streets, dodging the pot holes of course!!
Trevor
We should take to the streets, dodging the pot holes of course!!
Trevor
ive only been driving for a short period of time (about 4 years) but even ive noticed how crap the roads are getting now. really is becoming a joke.
i dont pay much attention to politics normally but it really does seem to me like the government are just pissing all the money from taxes down the toilet, and not just road tax's.
time for a coo i think!
i dont pay much attention to politics normally but it really does seem to me like the government are just pissing all the money from taxes down the toilet, and not just road tax's.
time for a coo i think!
I have a pretty short 12 mile commute and recently noticed 2 'massive' holes on one of the main roads (in Plymouth). Been there a couple of weeks now and full of water. And then I thought 'Hey, why not use the tarmac from those useless suspension trashing speed humps that are cropping up everywhere and fill in the existing holes'. Genius.
I totally agree that congestion charging is a useless diversion away from the real problem of solving our abismal transport system. If road pricing comes in I'll go the less expensive way and clog up the rural roads instead because I pay enough tax as it is.
I totally agree that congestion charging is a useless diversion away from the real problem of solving our abismal transport system. If road pricing comes in I'll go the less expensive way and clog up the rural roads instead because I pay enough tax as it is.
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