The air quality impact of cordon and distance based road user charging: An empirical study of Leeds, UK

Gordon Mitchell*, Anil Namdeo, David Milne

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Traffic assignment, pollutant emission and dispersion models were applied to a major UK city so as to assess the air quality impacts of five road pricing schemes. Schemes were evaluated with reference to: exceedence of air quality standards for six pollutants; greenhouse gas emission; redistribution of pollution, an environmental justice concern; and road network performance as traffic speed and trip distance. Results were compared to alternatives of do nothing, network development and clean fuel promotion. The air quality benefits of a modest distance-based charge are highlighted. However, whilst road pricing shows potential as an air quality management tool, its value and suitability are strongly sensitive to prior air quality and emission source apportionment in the application city.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6231-6242
Number of pages12
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume39
Issue number33
Early online date8 Sept 2005
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Air quality management
  • Dispersion modelling
  • Road pricing
  • Traffic emission
  • Urban

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