Tom Rye
Edinburgh's Congestion Charging Plans: An Analysis of Reasons for Non-Implementation
Rye, Tom; Gaunt, Martin; Ison, Stephen
Authors
Martin Gaunt
Stephen Ison
Abstract
The City of Edinburgh in Scotland in the UK had advanced plans for a congestion charging scheme until 25 February 2005. However, these plans were abandoned at that time after a referendum that resulted in a ‘no vote’. This paper explains the origins of the scheme, outlines its nature, extent, charging technology and predicted effect; it also analyses the difficulties that exist when attempting to plan and implement such a scheme in a particular governance context, and when there is little unanimity of public opinion about the need for a scheme.
As well as the primary documentation from the proposals (e.g. public inquiry submissions, papers to government), the paper also draws upon a series of face-to-face interviews that were undertaken with key stakeholders. It also provides an analysis of press coverage in the local (Edinburgh) and national (Scottish) newspapers in the run-up to the referendum. These sources explain both the systemic and more local barriers to the scheme's implementation.
The paper draws key lessons which are important for authorities considering the implementation of a road user charging scheme, by suggesting how legislative and governance barriers to implementation can be reduced. The lessons are of relevance world wide.
Citation
Rye, T., Gaunt, M., & Ison, S. (2008). Edinburgh's Congestion Charging Plans: An Analysis of Reasons for Non-Implementation. Transportation Planning and Technology, 31(6), 641-661. https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060802492686
| Journal Article Type | Article |
|---|---|
| Online Publication Date | Nov 5, 2008 |
| Publication Date | 2008-12 |
| Deposit Date | Aug 1, 2016 |
| Journal | Transportation Planning and Technology |
| Print ISSN | 0308-1060 |
| Electronic ISSN | 1029-0354 |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 641-661 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060802492686 |
| Keywords | Edinburgh, congestion charging, consultation, implementation |
| Public URL | http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/320815 |