An influential thinktank has told the government that they should forget about forcing local authorities to introduce congestion charging for money through the Transport Investment Fund (TIF) and should just invest in public transport. The comments from the “Centre for Cities” thinktank have been welcomed in both Nottingham and Birmingham as they believe they should get funding from the TIF for extensions of their respective light rail systems.
”Centre for Cities” say that the government should give it to the end of this year and if, as appears likely, there are no takers for the money by introducing congestion charging they should “call it a day on its current road user charging push”. The Department for Transport, however, don’t appear to be taking any notice, claiming they already invest a large sum into public transport throughout the UK and the TIF is an additional bonus which needs congestion charging to help ensure the money is there.
The report mentions the extensions to Midland Metro as needing funding. It states: “West Midlands Centro – the transport authority in the West Midlands – has had plans to extend the Midland Metro tram line through Birmingham city centre and into the Black Country for the last decade. The estimated cost of this project is around £430 million, but it has repeatedly been delayed by funding problems.
Source: Birmingham Post