Central London Congestion Charging Scheme Conversion
Strategies
The city of London is well-known for its many historic
sites, live theater, and heavy traffic. Despite a sophisticated underground
subway system known locally as the “tube,” traffic delays, car exhaust, noise
pollution, and vehicle–pedestrian accidents have plagued Londoners for decades.
After long deliberation, London’s city government adopted the Central London
Congestion Charging Scheme. This plan involved establishing a toll perimeter
around London’s center. Rather than stopping cars to collect tolls, however,
London set up video cameras at each toll zone crossing. These cameras link to a
billing system that charges each vehicle’s registered owner a one-day access
toll with same-day reentrance privileges. The steep toll, approximately $8,
discourages vehicle traffic into London’s city center. Londoners who live
within the toll zone receive a special discount, as do residents living near
the toll zone boundary, certain government workers, and businesses operating
fleets of vehicles. Tolls remain in effect during working hours on workdays.
Car owners have until the end of the day to pay their toll through e-mail, SMS
messaging, telephone, Web site, or kiosk. The tolls have resulted in a
significant decrease in automobile traffic, increased use of mass transit,
fewer accidents, and faster driving times. The tolls have had a negligible
effect on business operations and most residents. They have also generated
significant revenue that London uses to maintain the system andenhance public
transportation. Consider the massive work involved in educating the public,
marking all streets entering the toll zone, setting up cameras, and building
the information systems. The information systems alone must process the raw
images, match license plates to a payment database, receive payments, send out
nonpayment notices, and process appeals. Police also use the system’s databases
for a variety of law enforcement–related work.
a) Briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of each
conversion strategy (parallel, pilot, phased, and plunge) as they apply to the
central London Congestion Charging Scheme project.
b) Which conversion strategy would you recommend for this
project?
c) Defend your recommendation in detail.
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