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Road pricing: More new roads could be funded by tolls Road pricing: More new roads could be funded by tolls
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New road-building schemes could be paid for by tolls which drivers would pay to private companies, a Department for Transport (DfT) study has concluded. A plan to fund new roads using tolls which drivers would pay to private companies is to be included in the coalition's new policy agenda.
The scheme is thought to be one option that could form part of the coalition's refreshed programme for government, expected to be set out in the new year.
A recently approved upgrade to the A14 in Cambridgeshire could be the first building project funded by tolls.A recently approved upgrade to the A14 in Cambridgeshire could be the first building project funded by tolls.
A spokesman said the DfT was looking at tolling schemes to fund "new capacity". The policy programme - for the second half of the coalition - is expected to be set out in the new year.
A feasibility study into "private road ownership and financing models" is under way after it was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in this month's Autumn Statement. The report is due early in 2013. A spokesman said the DfT was looking at tolling schemes to fund "new capacity in very limited circumstances".
'Clear commitment' In the Autumn Statement earlier this month, Chancellor George Osborne announced that a feasibility study would be carried out by the Department for Transport.
The study will explore whether private sector companies could own new roads and how new road building projects could be funded. It will explore whether private sector companies could own new roads and how new road building projects could be funded.
The spokesman said the government had made a "clear commitment" not to toll parts of the existing road network and that position "has not changed".The spokesman said the government had made a "clear commitment" not to toll parts of the existing road network and that position "has not changed".
He added: "We have always said we would look at schemes which would fund significant new capacity through tolling. This would be in very limited circumstances and only where schemes deliver new roads or transform an existing road literally beyond all recognition."He added: "We have always said we would look at schemes which would fund significant new capacity through tolling. This would be in very limited circumstances and only where schemes deliver new roads or transform an existing road literally beyond all recognition."
'Tricky to sell'
More than 20 national road building schemes have been approved by the government, and currently only the A14 improvement scheme is being considered for tolling.More than 20 national road building schemes have been approved by the government, and currently only the A14 improvement scheme is being considered for tolling.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said road tolling was seen by its supporters "as a more sophisticated way of charging motorists for using the roads than vehicle excise and fuel duty".BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said road tolling was seen by its supporters "as a more sophisticated way of charging motorists for using the roads than vehicle excise and fuel duty".
Our correspondent added: "Tolling can take account of where and when a driver is using certain roads, but road tolls are a very visible charge and likely to prove rather tricky to sell to a largely sceptical electorate."Our correspondent added: "Tolling can take account of where and when a driver is using certain roads, but road tolls are a very visible charge and likely to prove rather tricky to sell to a largely sceptical electorate."
In 2007, about 1.8 million people registered their objection to road-pricing on the Downing Street website.In 2007, about 1.8 million people registered their objection to road-pricing on the Downing Street website.
There are already examples of tolls on the UK road network, such as the London congestion charge and at the Dartford Crossing.
The M6 Toll road, which aims to alleviate the increasing congestion on the M6 through Birmingham and the Black Country, opened in 2003.
In March, the prime minister David Cameron called for an "urgent" increase in private investment to improve England's road network.
He said tolls for new roads were one option, alongside attracting more money from pension funds and other investors.