Contributors to this issue

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Contributors to this issue

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Contributors to this issue

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The authors in this issue

This paper considers the main road-traffic parameters that determine air pollution, i.e. the total volume of traffic, road speeds and the composition of the vehicle fleet. Changes in the amounts of pollutants emitted, and the importance of each of the three parameters, have been computed by using a traffic assignment model, which also represents emission factors. The types of policies that may be implemented to reduce the environmental impact of transport are then considered. The study demonstrates, for example, that the impact of a deterioration in traffic conditions is limited in comparison with the effect of forecast increases in traffic and improvements in the environmental performance of vehicles. As a consequence, if cities and urban transport are to achieve sustainable development, urban expansion must take place in a controlled way.     

The authors in this issue

Cambridge is a small free standing city in the UK with a population of 105 000. In recent years it has endured a worsening congestion problem essentially as a result of employment growth within the city and the narrow street layout. This is not a unique problem but one which is particularly acute in historic cities. In 1990, Congestion Metering was advanced, in addition to a number of other measures, as a means of managing traffic demand within the city. It has generated a great deal of interest internationally, particularly the field trial which took place in October 1993. This was the first time that any form of road pricing had been demonstrated practically in the UK. The aim of this article is to provide a review, establishing why the idea of Congestion Metering was originally considered and why, at least in the short to medium term, it is unlikely to be implemented in a Cambridge context. The process by which, if adopted, it is envisaged that Congestion Metering would be introduced is outlined, and the relative merits and potential weaknesses of such a demand management measure. Finally, the author considers the real problem of ‘public scepticism’ which needs to be addressed if Congestion Metering is to avoid the pitfalls which have bedevilled other road pricing schemes world‐wide.     

The authors in this issue

This paper analyses the impacts on a particular region of a recent policy change regarding public transit subsidy in New Zealand, under which the contributions of local authorities are increased from 0 to 50% of net direct expenditures. The options open to the community are examined and their effects on regional income, future development and social equitability are analysed. It also illustrates the cost effectiveness of a natural monopoly under increased accountability.