Transport for London has marked the 20^th anniversary of the Congestion Charge with new data showing the economic and sustainability benefits.

The Congestion Charge went live on 17 February 2003

The scheme went live on 17 February 2003, reducing traffic driving into the zone to cut congestion and emissions.

TfL data shows that the scheme limited traffic entering the zone by 18% during weekday charging hours and reduced congestion by 30%. It also boosted bus travel in central London by 33%.

The scheme also helped to move 10% of car journeys to walking, cycling and public transport, which TfL shows the role road user charging schemes can play in making a more liveable and sustainable city.

However, while the Congestion Charge focused on tackling congestion, growing scientific evidence on the deadly impacts of toxic air pollution created an imperative to move quickly to cut harmful emissions and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was introduced in 2019.

The replacement to the T-Charge, it was expanded to inner London in 2021 and has already resulted in harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels lowering by 46% and 21% in central and inner London respectively than without the scheme. Controversially, it will roll out London-wide in August, backed by a £110m scrappage scheme.

Seb Dance, deputy mayor for transport, said: “The introduction of the Congestion Charge in 2003 – the first of its kind – sparked something of a quiet revolution in transforming the ways that Londoners get around the capital. The steep and immediate impact the charge had on both congestion and the environment paved the way for further transport innovation in London. 20 years later and London is still proving itself to be the trailblazer. The Mayor recently announced that his world-leading Ultra Low Emission Zone will be expanded London-wide in August, bringing cleaner air to 5 million more people and helping to build a better, greener, fairer London for everyone.