A promise of cheaper and better bus services is at the heart of a proposal by Cardiff Council to introduce a road user payment scheme in the city.
A pay-per-use levy along the lines of the London congestion charge could support £1 bus fares and expanded services, improve air-quality and reduce congestion, according to the council, which has begun consultation on the idea.
No decisions have yet been taken on who would pay, how and how much, but the scheme would be ringfenced and, together with government funding, support improvements to the transport system. Cardiff Council has drawn comparisons with toll roads and clean air zones in place elsewhere.
Exemptions on the payment may include registered bus services and minibuses.
Council leaders say road transport is responsible for 40% of C02e emissions in the Welsh capital, which is the joint highest measured for road transport among the UK’s “11 core cities”.
The proposal document adds that public transport improvements, such as £1 bus fares and better and expanded bus services, would need to be in place before such a scheme was introduced.
A period of research, planning and consultation means a cabinet decision would not take place until the end of 2024. If given the go-ahead, transport improvements could start in 2026 with the payment scheme unlikely to begin until 2027.
Among the benefits being discussed is “a prioritised bus network across the city with reliable turn up and go services – targeting a 100% increase in bus ridership”, support for the development of wider regional bus network and the delivery of an electric bus fleet.
According to Transport for London, bus travel in central London increased by 33% in the year after the introduction of the congestion charge in 2003 and Cardiff council. Although councillors would be hoping for similar benefits, they stress that the plan would be tailored for Cardiff.
The planning document says: “By looking at schemes which have been introduced in London and elsewhere, we can learn from their successes and mistakes and use it to our advantage.
“Using lessons learnt from other schemes alongside our consultation process, we will adopt a scheme which is fair and helps us build a cleaner, greener stronger, economically competitive, and attractive city with less pollution and better transport options.”
Adam Keen, the Managing Director of local operator Adventure Travel, says in response to the proposal that more immediate support for the industry in Wales needs to be guaranteed.
Scott Pearson, Managing Director of Newport Transport, which runs services in Cardiff, adds: “Newport Transport welcomes the ambition of short, medium and long-term planning designed to increase the efficiency of public bus networks via the reallocation of road space with better customer-centric infrastructure, which are all measures designed to encourage the shift towards multi-modal public transport.
“Car usage is clearly on the rise again and simply not sustainable. With better offerings for customers in the manner of fully electric buses currently operating in and around Cardiff, these plans should further enhance the environmental choice now being added to the modal-shift discussion.”
