An evaluation of national road user charging in England

This paper explores the effects of road user charging throughout England. It develops a model to test charging scenarios including revenue raising and revenue neutral charging options, and economically efficient pricing. For each scenario we estimate effects on traffic volumes, user charges and fares, subsidies, environmental costs, benefits to consumers, government revenue, and overall net benefits. We show that appropriate charging structures coupled with compensating reductions in existing motoring taxes can make a real difference to traffic growth, congestion and environmental damage, and can relieve pressure to build new roads.