Free Economics Dissertations - How would the Congestion Charge work in Glasgow
Contents Page no
1. Introduction4
1.1 Literature review5
1.2 Study Area 9
1.3.1 Population and Area9
1.3.2 Pollution Levels in Glasgow9
1.3.3 What are the health concerns for the people
living in Glasgow? 10
1.3.4 Road Safety11
1.3.5 Why introduce Congestion Charging to Glasgow?12
1.4 Previous projects12
2. Methodology and Analysis17
2.1 How would the Congestion Charge work in Glasgow?19
2.1.1 Zone Charging20
2.1.2 Reinforcement Cameras20
2.1.3 Exemptions20
3. Discussion20
3.1 Potential for success in Glasgow - accrued knowledge20
4. Conclusion22
4.1 Recommendations for further study24
References25
Introduction
Urban growth over centuries has been built on the premise that transportation costs for goods, for people and for ideas can be minimized. A corollary of this has traditionally been a public transport system which has transported the working population to the Central Business District, the heart of a City. A lack of investment in public services combined with increased car affordability has, however, resulted in a boom in car ownership. The growth in car ownership has had a dramatic impact on urban centres worldwide. In Scotland, specifically Glasgow and Edinburgh, measures are considered necessary to control the increasing numbers of cars on the road. The main consequence of this trend has been congestion and declining air quality.
The logical conclusion from the fact that a transport network was established prior to the establishment of the automobile as the primary mode of transport is that the infrastructure is somewhat limited. Where both the transport infrastructure is lacking and causing environmental hazards, action is usually considered a necessity. At a global scale, sustainable development is receiving much deserved attention, particularly with regards the state of the environment. The unsustainable rate of natural resource exploitation has led to a growing appreciation of the need to change current approaches. In response to increasing concerns about climate change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was agreed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 188 countries have now signed it. Under the Convention, all developed countries agreed to an aim to return their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. The UK is one of a small number of OECD countries who have met this target. The most up to date data on the UK's emissions shows that carbon dioxide emissions fell by 8.7 percent between 1990 and 2002 and total greenhouse gas emissions fell by 15.3 per cent over the same period.
It was quickly recognised, however, that the Convention commitments could only be a first step in the international response to climate change.
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