Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Keeping Drivers at Bay: San Francisco mulls congestion charge]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/keeping-drivers-at-bay-san-francisco-considers-congestion-charg/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/keeping-drivers-at-bay-san-francisco-considers-congestion-charg/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/keeping-drivers-at-bay-san-francisco-considers-congestion-charg/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boris Johnson for Mayor of... San Francisco? Our favorite municipal chief executive may be taking his time in dismantling the congestion charge in London, but his services may soon be needed in the City by the Bay, as local bureaucrats there contemplate instituting a new charge for motorists wishing to enter - or leave - the city's downtown core.

Driving in San Francisco is already quite an ordeal, and it's listed as the second most congested city in the United States. Motorists already have to pay tolls to cross the bridge and exorbitant parking fees, but the new initiative in the notoriously environmentally-friendly haven in Northern California (a similar initiative to that which failed in New York), could achieve its purpose of deterring motorists from driving downtown altogether. Mayor Gavin Newson is in favor of the plan - which would involve charging cars $3 on the way in as well as on the way out - as is County Transportation Authority director Jose Luis Mosovich, who likens Hurricane Katrina, the economic crisis, global warming, and yes, even terrorism to the city's burgeoning traffic crisis.

[Source: Los Angeles Times | Photo: Panoramio]

Keeping Drivers at Bay: San Francisco mulls congestion charge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Boris JohnsonBorisJohnsoncongestioncongestion chargecongestion tollCongestionChargeCongestionTollgavin newsonGavinNewsonLuis MosovichLuisMosovichsan franciscosan francisco congestion chargesan francisco congestion tollSanFranciscoSanFranciscoCongestionChargeSanFranciscoCongestionTollFri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[London to consider scrapping congestion charge for economy's sake]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/london-to-consider-scrapping-congestion-charge-for-economys-sak/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/london-to-consider-scrapping-congestion-charge-for-economys-sak/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/london-to-consider-scrapping-congestion-charge-for-economys-sak/#commentsFiled under: , ,



London Mayor Boris Johnson is considering scrapping the city's oft-maligned Congestion Charge. The pay-to-drive strategy was instituted back in 2003 as a way of reducing traffic in the busy British capital, but it has met with fierce opposition from motorists and some politicians. Shortly after taking office, Johnson got rid of the latest extension which instituted the C-Charge in western parts of the city, but the Congestion Charge Zone is still alive and well in Central London. While it may be effective in reducing traffic (though that's often debated as well), the charge of £8 to enter the CCZ, along with fines of between £60 and £180 for non-payment seems to be enough to keep shoppers out of London during the holiday season, so it has been temporarily suspended. To help boost the city's ailing economy, Johnson is extending the downtime through January 1.

When asked if he would consider ridding the city of the C-Charge completely, Johnson didn't immediately discount the idea, saying that he'd "brood on it" for a while. While it's obvious that London has a serious congestion problem, in these troubled economic times, financial problems might take priority. Stay tuned.

[Source: PistonHeads]

London to consider scrapping congestion charge for economy's sake originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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London motorists can rejoice after a planned £25 daily congestion charge was lifted by a signature of consent order by an administrative court in London. Porsche was a major voice against the charge, and the German automaker went full-tilt in the courts to throw out former mayor Ken Livingstone's hefty tax. The proposed tax likely didn't do much good for Livingsone's re-election campaign, which he lost to Boris Johnson in May, who campaigned against the charge.

As the victor in the case, Porsche will receive a six-figure lump sum to pay its legal bills, but the German automaker isn't interested in the money. The money will be donated to UK-based Skidz, which teaches at-risk kids to be automotive mechanics. Mayor Johnson will now work to introduce a 'fairer and more effective' congestion charge. Hit the jump for a bit of Porsche gloating in press release form.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Continue reading Porsche claims victory in London congestion charge case

Porsche claims victory in London congestion charge case originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>congestion chargeCongestionChargelondonPorscheUKTue, 08 Jul 2008 14:27:00 EST<![CDATA[London Mayor: "No More Congestion Charges"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/02/london-mayor-no-more-congestion-charges/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/02/london-mayor-no-more-congestion-charges/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/02/london-mayor-no-more-congestion-charges/#commentsFiled under: ,

Motorists in London had high hopes when they elected Boris Johnson as their mayor. The former Conservative party leader is a well-known gearhead, and even moonlights as an automotive journalist. And those hopes may just yet be vindicated, as Mayor Johnson begins rolling back the Congestion Charges instituted by his reviled predecessor "Red" Ken Livingstone.

For starters, Boris has stated publicly and on the record, "I am not going to be having any more congestion charges." Although he has not yet dismantled the entire system, the Mayor has indicated that he is considering canceling its most recent extension into the Kensington and Chelsea neighborhoods, narrowing down the zone to the downtown core between Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. At the same time, Johnson is launching a half-million-pound public consultation into the entire C-Zone network, while campaigning for a "modal shift towards bicycling and walking, not just in inner London but also in outer London." We hope to hear good things soon.

[Source: PistonHeads]

London Mayor: "No More Congestion Charges" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boris johnsonBorisJohnsonc chargec zoneCChargecongestion chargecongestion zoneCongestionChargeCongestionZoneCZonelondonlondon congestionlondon englandLondonCongestionLondonEnglandmayor boris johnsonmayor londonmayor of londonMayorBorisJohnsonMayorLondonMayorOfLondonWed, 02 Jul 2008 16:18:00 EST<![CDATA[NYC congestion charge gets blocked by state]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/nyc-congestion-charge-gets-blocked-by-state/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/nyc-congestion-charge-gets-blocked-by-state/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/nyc-congestion-charge-gets-blocked-by-state/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Manhattan's latest attempt at disguised taxation has ground to a halt in the most trivial fashion. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed congestion charge for cars and trucks headed into the city below 60th street was summarily ignored by lawmakers. Rather than a contentious fight in the state assembly, the clock was simply run out and the bill died without being put to a vote. The failure of Bloomberg's plan means that New York City will also miss out on 350 million federally earmarked dollars for mass transit, and other ways to improve air quality and decrease gridlock must be sought. Even if it had passed, Manhattan's fee of $8 for cars and $21 for trucks would have been lower than what Red Ken charges for entry to London proper. While the goal of decreasing gridlock and improving air quality is admirable, we can see how the congestion charge would further squeeze those who can least afford it. To be sure, an alternative to Manhattan's current traffic would be welcome, and embracing change isn't always easy, but lets see what they come up with next. Thanks for the tip, RxMadness!

[Source: AFP, Photo by Mario Tama/Getty]

NYC congestion charge gets blocked by state originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone knows it's going to be done, no one knows yet how: the "congestion charge" is coming to Manhattan. Mike Bloomberg finally won the capitulation of the plan's most ardent foe, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and with him out of the way, there doesn't appear to be any other obstacles.

All that's left now is the shouting, and there promises to be plenty of that. The question is how to charge everyone equitably, since people can arrive in Manhattan south of 86th Street (where the toll would take effect) in ways that already require them to pay a toll (like the Battery Tunnel, which is $8 round-trip with E-Z Pass). Refunding the congestion charge was an idea, but that was deemed too complicated. (However -- and not to throw our New York friends under the bridge, as it were -- bridge and tunnel tolls weren't created to cut down on traffic into the city, so would a bridge/tunnel toll and a congestion toll really overlap?) Any solution will take a fine mix of fairness, technology, PR, all of Bloomberg's negotiating savvy, and, frankly, somebody taking some lumps.

The plan still needs final approval from the City Council and State Legislature, which is projected to go Bloomberg's way on March 31, 2008. But with 31 of 50 City Council members hailing from Brooklyn and Queens, all with a multitude of constituents who will have to pony up the ducats, the fine points of who pays what, when, and where, is still quite some ways off.

[Source: The New York Sun via Winding Road, Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty]

Congestion charge could make it to New York this spring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYC Mayor Michael BloombergNew York's mayor, Mike Bloomberg, is ready to steal a page from his London counterpart's handbook and announce plans to hit drivers who bring their cars into Manhattan below 86th street with an $8 congestion charge in a bid to ease gridlock in the city's crowded midtown business district. The fee would include the existing bridge and tunnel tolls drivers currently have to pay. Some people are understandably upset, and opposition groups are said to be forming in the outer boroughs.

Naturally, there will be exceptions. Taxis are unlikely to pay the fee, and there's word that drivers who avoid the business district while heading to other parts of the city could be exempt as well. The report also mentions possible discounts for individuals who live and/or work in the impacted zone. Mayor Bloomberg is expected to detail the specifics of his proposal in a speech he's giving tomorrow, and we'll follow up after we've heard all the particulars.

If the mayor does set the plan into motion, it'll need to be improved by the state legislature, meaning those of us (ahem) in the NYC media market are going to have the opportunity to watch the political fireworks unfold during the local evening newscasts. This is gonna get interesting.

UPDATE 4/22: Ahead of today's speech, WNYC (New York Public Radio) reported that drivers who use the FDR drive and West Side Highway would be exempted from the fee. The mayor stated as much in his weekly radio program on WABC. More on the proposal as we get the info.

[Source: WCBS TV, New York]

Mayor Mike readies $8 congestion fee for NYC drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some of you may recall a couple of years ago when London instituted its congestion charge to help ease traffic and parking concerns in the city. Many people balked, but the £8 a day ($16) fee has indeed reduced congestion and raised revenue. Not everybody is pleased about paying the fee, but a few have made it a point to really raise non-payment to an art form. Case in point, America's Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Robert Holmes Tuttle. Tuttle and his embassy staff have amassed £1,000,000 ($2M) in fees and fines for going more than a year without paying the congestion charge.

In the process they have accumulated 10,486 non-payment citations. While the US is by far the worst offender, several African nations have also thumbed their noses at the fees. London Mayor Ken Livingstone has threatened legal action to get the US to pay up. In their defense, the US Embassy says this is a tax, which they would be exempt from. Livingstone counters that it is in fact a fee:

"They are entitled to their opinion but it is for the British authorities to decide what is a tax and what is not a tax in the UK. Both the UK government and the Greater London Authority consider the congestion charge a charge for a service: reduced congestion. The issue here is clear: the US government rightly expects international diplomats living in Washington to respect US law; we are entitled to expect US diplomats living in London to respect British law. British diplomats in the US pay American tolls and charges."

Tuttle also happens to be one of the principals behind the Tuttle-Click string of auto dealers in Orange County, California. Stay tuned, this could get ugly.

[Source: Yorkshire Post Today via Hemmings]

A $2m parking ticket? US Embassy v London congestion charge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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