Transport: Congestion Pricing
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT
R E S E A R C H
C E N T R E
MANAGING URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Summary Document
T R A N S P O R T
JOINT TRANSPORT RESEARCH CENTRE
In January 2004, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) brought together their transport research capabilities in setting up the Joint Transport Research Centre. The Centre has 50 full members from Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, including all members of the OECD and ECMT. The Centre’s mandate is to promote economic development and contribute to structural improvements of OECD and ECMT economies through co-operative transport research programmes addressing all modes of inland transport and their intermodal linkages in a wider economic, social, environmental and institutional context. For more information regarding the Joint OECD/ECMT Transport Research Centre, including its full programme of research activities and other recent publications, please consult www.cemt.org/JTRC/index.htm.
INTRODUCTION
–5
INTRODUCTION
Cities and traffic have developed hand-in-hand since the earliest large human settlements. The same forces that draw inhabitants to congregate in large urban areas also lead to sometimes intolerable levels of traffic congestion on urban streets and thoroughfares. Effective urban governance requires a careful balancing between the benefits of agglomeration and the dis-benefits of excessive congestion. This document provides a summary of the key messages and findings of the OECD/ECMT Joint Transport Policy Research Centre report on Managing Urban Traffic Congestion. It puts forward policy-oriented, research-based recommendations for effectively managing traffic congestion and eliminating excessive congestion in large urban areas. It also provides a fundamental overview of the nature, scope and measurement of congestion necessary for any effective congestion
R E S E A R C H
C E N T R E
MANAGING URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Summary Document
T R A N S P O R T
JOINT TRANSPORT RESEARCH CENTRE
In January 2004, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) brought together their transport research capabilities in setting up the Joint Transport Research Centre. The Centre has 50 full members from Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, including all members of the OECD and ECMT. The Centre’s mandate is to promote economic development and contribute to structural improvements of OECD and ECMT economies through co-operative transport research programmes addressing all modes of inland transport and their intermodal linkages in a wider economic, social, environmental and institutional context. For more information regarding the Joint OECD/ECMT Transport Research Centre, including its full programme of research activities and other recent publications, please consult www.cemt.org/JTRC/index.htm.
INTRODUCTION
–5
INTRODUCTION
Cities and traffic have developed hand-in-hand since the earliest large human settlements. The same forces that draw inhabitants to congregate in large urban areas also lead to sometimes intolerable levels of traffic congestion on urban streets and thoroughfares. Effective urban governance requires a careful balancing between the benefits of agglomeration and the dis-benefits of excessive congestion. This document provides a summary of the key messages and findings of the OECD/ECMT Joint Transport Policy Research Centre report on Managing Urban Traffic Congestion. It puts forward policy-oriented, research-based recommendations for effectively managing traffic congestion and eliminating excessive congestion in large urban areas. It also provides a fundamental overview of the nature, scope and measurement of congestion necessary for any effective congestion