International Experience with Road and Congestion Pricing and Options for Johannesburg

Road and congestion pricing refers to a range of transportation mechanisms designed to curb excessive vehicle use. These mechanisms include area licensing, road tolling and others. The main objective of the study was to identify road and congestion pricing options that would be viable and appropriate for implementation in the Johannesburg metropolitan area, based on an analysis of factors such as congestion reduction potential and associated environmental benefits, public and socio-political acceptance, equity concerns, institutional arrangements and technological requirements. The study is based on an extensive literature review on road and congestion pricing and research into the experience with existing and proposed road and congestion pricing schemes internationally. The study finds that two possible scheme scenarios could be envisaged for Johannesburg – corridor systems and cordon-based area (or zone) systems – but that many political, transport, and socio-economic questions remain that would have to be addressed before a viable scheme could be developed.