Fresh call for road charging in Liverpool

Feb 9 2008

ENGINEERS working on the city’s infrastructure are demanding a crackdown on car usage.

They say city centre improvements are being undermined by snarl-ups and are renewing calls for a congestion charge.

In addition, they also want to see the Merseyrail network extended to give commuters in the suburbs more choice in getting to work.

The call to charge motorists came at the Institute of Civil Engineers’ State of the City conference in Liverpool yesterday. The professionals say it is imperative there is a lasting legacy for the city when 2008 draws to a close.

North West regional chairman Chris Davies said: “Transport infrastructure and services in Liverpool have steadily improved in recent years. Implementation of the City Centre Movement Strategy and the associated highway improvements is also complete.

“Key highway routes into the city have already been, or will be, improved to ease traffic flows and reduce congestion.

“However, serious consideration may have to be given to more robust demand management measures, including road charging. The continued growth of the private car presents a real threat to Liverpool’s economic regeneration and environmental quality of life.

“Measures could be introduced to control and manage road usage and raise finance to be reinvested in public transport infrastructure.”

He called for further investment in the Merseyrail network. to penetrate more population segments and enhancing the city’s offer to comuters.

Mr Davies added: “The Merseyrail network is now consistently among the top performing services in the country.”

The ICE’s State of the City report focuses on how the city’s infrastructure must cope with the demands of Capital of Culture status – and delivers a verdict across the key areas which govern the quality of life of everyone who lives here.

The report outlines a raft of infrastructure measures which ICE believes are essential to safeguard the sustainable future of the city and includes:

Construction of the new post- Panamax vessel size river terminal is vital both to the future of the port and the city’s sustainable economic wellbeing.

Ensure that the development of the transport infrastructure matches the port’s growth and supports a shift to rail and water borne transport.

The continued growth of the private car presents a real threat to Liverpool’s economic regeneration and environmental quality of life. Demand management measures could be introduced to control and manage road usage, and raise finance to be reinvested in public transport infrastructure.

Continue the development and enhancement of the Merseyrail system to penetrate more population segments, further enhancing the city’s rail commuter and visitor catchment.

Construction of all new developments should conform to the latest environmental standards and be zero carbon rated where practicable.