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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Severn River Crossing: Tolls (5 March 2018)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential change to traffic volumes in Bristol after the removal of tolls on the Severn Bridge.

Asked by:
Darren Jones (Labour)

Answer

Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government undertook modelling to assess the effect of the policy to continue tolling at a reduced rate and on the possible option of free-flow tolling. The modelling used a version of the M4-CAN traffic model extended to take account of the effect of changes in tolls on both the South West of England and Wales, which included estimates of wider economic effects consistent with DfT Transport Appraisal Guidance.

Removal of the tolls will mean more people will be able to afford to cross the border in both directions to seek job and trade opportunities. This will support motorists, residents and businesses across Wales and the south-west, helping rebalance the economy as part of the Industrial Strategy. These benefits are expected to be associated with an increase in traffic around the Severn and Bristol area.

The Government announced on 21 July 2017 that it was removing tolls by the end of 2018. No further modelling was undertaken by the Department for Transport on this specific option.


Answered by:
Jesse Norman (Conservative)
12 March 2018

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.