Subject - The Manchester TIF Transport Proposals - What's it all about?

Posted : (Friday 28th November 2008 ) By - jess (Registered User)

On 11th December residents of Greater Manchester will vote on the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) proposals for a £3 billion investment in public transport, funded by a grant from the government, and a weekday, peak-time only congestion charge. But what exactly are we voting for? And how will it affect us?

This has been made by the Vote NO/Stop the Charge campaign

The congestion charge and the improvements to the public transport system are part of the same packet - we cannot have one without the other. This is because, according to the government, we need the money generated by the congestion charge to help pay for the public transport improvements.

A number of specific projects will be funded from the scheme, including extensions of the Manchester Metrolink to Oldham town centre, Rochdale town centre, East Didsbury, Ashton under Lyne, the Trafford Centre and Manchester Airport. A second line through the city centre will also be built. In total, 35 kilometres (22 mi) of new lines are planned. The line to Stockport, however, will not be funded. A Bus Rapid Transit system will run along the Oxford Road corridor and between the city centre and Bolton and Leigh. This should reduce journey times by providing more segregation from other traffic.

A fleet of American-style yellow school buses will be introduced. More than 30 rail stations will be uprgraded, in addition to extra carriages for the busiest rail services. GMPTE also plans to introduce a smartcard ticketing system, similar to London's Oyster Card. Eight new transport interchanges will also be built across Greater Manchester.80% of these improvements will be in place before the congestion charge will be introduced

Every district will receive investment to suit its particular needs. To see what will be happening in your area, click on your district from the list below.
Bolton
Bury
Manchester
Oldham
Rochdale
Salford
Stockport
Tameside
Trafford
Wigan
City Centre

If you use one particular means of transport, click on the links below to see how you'll be affected:
Trains
Trams
Bus
School bus
Cycles
Integration & Smartcards
Cars

The Congestion Charge

Congestion charging in Greater Manchester would not be introduced before 2013 at the the earliest, when at least 80% of the transport improvements are in operation.
The income generated from the charge will be invested in the improvements needed to develop and expand the transport network.

Greater Manchester has been successful in attracting new businesses and developing new jobs. While this is great news for the region, it causes pressure on our transport system. Car ownership has increased by roughly 25% over the last ten years, causing a permanent battle with road congestion. Traffic speeds coming into Greater Manchester in the morning rush hour have slowed by almost 20% since 2000.
The construction of new roads such as the M60 has helped for a while, but congestion is increasing again and it needs to be managed if the region is to continue to prosper.

TIF aims to tackle congestion at the times, places and direction that it does greatest harm to the Greater Manchester economy.
Fewer than 20% of Greater Manchester’s weekday peak-time drivers would pay a charge. The average daily charge is estimated to be less than £3 (at 2007 prices).
The congestion charge is designed to tackle congestion at the time, place and direction where it is at its worst. The system is based on two charging rings picking up vehicles heading in towards Manchester in the weekday morning and outward, away from Manchester, in the evenings.

Download a map of the charging rings:

Charging Rings Map PDF (2MB)
Download a pdf of the outer ring (1.1Mb)
Download a pdf of the inner ring (415Kb)

To that end the congestion charge will pick up vehicles travelling towards Manchester between 7am and 9.30am Monday to Friday. Drivers will pay £2 (at 2007 prices) when crossing the outer ring (just within the M60) and £1 on crossing the inner ring travelling towards Manchester. There will be no charge for vehicles travelling away from Manchester at this time of the day.

During the evening peak the congestion charge will pick up vehicles travelling away from Manchester between 4pm and 6.30pm. Drivers will pay £1 when crossing the inner ring and £1 when crossing the outer ring. There will be no charge for incoming cars at this time.

There will be no charge at all for any vehicles travelling before 7am, between 9.30am and 4pm or after 6.30pm Monday to Friday regardless of the direction of travel. There will also be no charge at weekends or on Bank Holidays.

There will be no charge at any point for drivers who do not cross one of the rings during their journey.
There is no charge for travelling around the M60 or the inner ring road.

For more information visit the GMPTE Future Transport Website