[lbo-talk] London congestion charge

[John Thornton]

James Heartfield wrote:
> Doug, quoting Transport for London:
> 'Congestion Charging has led to reduced traffic levels and pollution,
> shorter journey times and better air quality. By law, all net revenue
> has to be invested in improving transport in London.
> <http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6723.aspx>
>
> But it would make as much sense to quote George Bush on the success of the 
> surge.
>
> Even the section you cite admits that the impact on actual congestion has 
> been negligible (eight per cent). As for 'by law all net revenue...' the 
> point is that that is all *NET* revenue, but most of the revenue disappears 
> in administration costs. Then there is the question of what qualifies as 
> investment in improving transport, which mostly means vast payouts to the 
> army of gladhanding 'consultants' sucking on the GLA tit - none of whom has 
> done anything to improve transport.
>
> Livingstone has already admitted that the congestion charge was a failure by 
> changing the rationale for its introduction - to reduce congestion at the 
> time, to penalise motorists afterwards.
>
> It is true of course that the public transport system consumes vast 
> subsidies (rising to one billion sterling 
> http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/busesstrategicreview.pdf). 
> And at the same time public transport fares are rising way above inflation 
> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-big-question-why-are-rail-fares-rising-so-fast-and-can-these-higher-prices-be-justified-430581.html 
>   

So is the independent analysis done by the ALG that mostly agrees with 
the TfL report equally like "W" assessing his own war as well?
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/351/ProjectOverview.pdf
It's a lie when they write?
Within the charging zone, it is estimated that there has been an overall 
14.6% reduction in traffic (expressed as vehicle-kilometres, for 
vehicles with four or more wheels), corroborating the results reported 
by TfL.
If Tfl is lying and ALG is lying who are we supposed to believe?
The ABD report or the CEBR report? They too have a horse in this race so 
their objectivity is just as open to question.

John Thornton