Cambridge city region considering road user charging

Road user charging could be introduced in Cambridge under a proposal put forward by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) – a partnership of councils, business and academia – and the delivery body for the local City Deal with central Government.

GCP is proposing to introduce a £5 daily charge for all vehicles travelling into, out of and within a central “Sustainable Travel Zone” between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. GCP predicts the measure could reduce car trips in Cambridge by half.

The proposed boundary extends north to the A14 beyond Chesterton, west to the M11 at the Madingley park and ride, south to the Trumpington and Babraham parking sites and east towards Cherry Hinton and the city’s airport. It hopes to have the scheme in place within five years.

Money generated by the scheme would fund bus service improvements and active travel initiatives.

New bus routes include additional orbital and express services and an increase in rural coverage, supported by demand responsive transport services. Bus operating hours would increase and fares would be capped at £1 to travel within the city and £2 for journeys in the wider travel to work area.

The proposals will be put to a statutory public consultation, if approved by GCP’s executive board at the end of the month. 

Cambridge City Council leader Anna Smith said, “As we face the twin threats of climate change and rising fuel prices, it’s right that – as a whole community – we think hard about all the options to cut congestion and pollution in Cambridge, and to provide better, cheaper public transport.

“If the Greater Cambridge Partnership assembly and board agree on proposals to take [the proposals] to consultation, I urge everyone to share their views. As a city council, we’ll be listening very carefully to what our residents, local businesses and workers are saying.”

In a statement, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority said it welcomed the proposals. “This sits alongside the work the combined authority is continuing to do in improving our bus infrastructure, which is essential to the success of the GCP’s proposals and ensures that our communities have affordable and sustainable ways of travelling across Greater Cambridgeshire for years to come.”