Manchester gets green light for congestion charge plan

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — The British government gave Manchester a provisional green light Monday for a congestion charge scheme, to cut traffic jams and boost use of public transport.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly voiced support for the 2.8 billion pound (3.5 billion euro, 5.5 billion dollar) scheme "in principle" and said she would work with the Greater Manchester local authority to develop it.

The Manchester congestion charge plans are markedly different from the pioneering scheme that has been in place in London since 2003, in which motorists pay a daily charge for travelling into the city centre.

The Manchester scheme would charge people only for driving during morning and evening rush-hours from Monday to Friday, when passing through an inner and an outer ring...