Extra motorway lanes instead of road pricing

Hard shoulders will be opened to traffic on busy stretches of motorway under plans announced by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly today.

Kelly said she was also considering creating “reserved lanes” for vehicles carrying more than one person or motorists willing to pay a toll. Her officials said no decision had been taken on whether motorcyclists would have to pay to use them.

Kelly said: “There is a compelling argument for car-share or charged lanes, which have been used for some time in the US. In order to get maximum benefit, access to car-share lanes is limited to vehicles carrying passengers, or single drivers willing to pay a toll. I intend to explore the possibility for taking a similar approach here where we are adding new capacity.”

The proposals replace plans for a national pay-per-mile road pricing scheme, which have been shelved due to public opposition.

Plans are already well underway for a High Occupancy Vehicle lane on a stretch of the M606 and M62 between Bradford and Leeds

 A Highways Agency spokesman said the new HOV lane was due to open “shortly” and that motorcycles would be allowed to use them with or without a passenger.

Hard shoulders have already been opened to traffic at busy times in a pilot on the M42 near Birmingham. Motorists who need to stop use emergency lay-bys positioned every 500 metres.

The scheme could now be extended to the M1, M62, M6, M27, M4 and M5.
Kelly also announced another four years’ funding for local road pricing pilots which may include charges for motorcyclists.  

A petition on Number 10’s website against national road pricing gained 1.8 million signatures. MCN also campaigned against a national scheme after Government said motorcycles were to be included in trials of road pricing technology.