Press Releases

09 June 2008

An Intelligent Charge

TIF aims to tackle congestion at the times, places and direction that it does greatest harm to the GM economy.

Less than 20% of Greater Manchester’s peak-time commuting drivers would pay a charge.  The average charge paid would be less than £3* per week day.

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 morning and outward, away from Manchester, in the evenings.

To that end, the congestion charge will pick up vehicles travelling towards Manchester between 7am and 9:30am Monday to Friday. Drivers would pay £2 (at 2007 prices) when crossing an outer ring (just within the M60) and £1 on crossing an 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 would 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 would 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.

If charging is introduced in 2013 as planned, the average weekday daily charge of £3 at 2007 prices, would be no more than £3.60.

*At 2007 prices.

Notes to Editors
Today’s announcement confirms up to £3 billion of funding will be available for transport improvements in Greater Manchester. This comprises Government grants of £1.5 billion, £1.2 billion of local funding supported by future revenue from a limited peak time only congestion charge and £0.1 billion of third party contributions. The DfT has also confirmed that it will fund extra railway rolling stock for the city-region supporting in excess of 7,000 extra passengers at peak times.

The Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) is a central Government fund that supports “innovative solutions to congestion problems, involving demand management measures”. Local Authorities across England bid for this fund.

There is no other source of Central or Local Government funding which would provide the financial support for the dramatic improvement in transport that Greater Manchester needs to continue its recent growth into the coming decades.