Britain’s transport infrastructure is ‘not fit for purpose’ and the cost of congestion will soon exceed £20billion a year, according to a leading think tank.
This country has the most congested roads, the fewest motorways and ‘some of the worst public transport’ among leading industrialised countries, the report from Policy Exchange said.
The study also claims that ‘relatively small’ road charging on congestion hotspots would fund improvements.
Congestion is now endemic, affecting not only large cities but small towns, the report added.
A six-hour, peak-time weekday charge of 10p per kilometre on a six-lane motorway, priced to run close to capacity, could raise about £1.5m per km annually, concluded Policy Exchange.
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.
‘The greatest barrier to pricing is public opinion. Having endured decades of special taxation for the benefit of general spending, motorists do not trust governments to introduce pricing from which they will benefit.’
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