Congestion Charging System on Traffic Flow of Public Transportation: A Review

A congestion Charging System (CCS) is a well-known Travel Demand Management (TDM) “push measure” that aims to discourage the use of private vehicles with low passenger capacity. Under this scheme, most cars pay fees while driving through congestion-charged zones (CCZ). It is a controversial traffic strategy quickly gaining popularity as traffic congestion worsens in many cities worldwide. By influencing road users’ decisions on when, where, how, and whether or not they need to travel, the implementation of a congestion charging system significantly reduces traffic congestion. Available data shows that the lack of real-time traffic data hampers the congestion charging system’s ability to operate effectively. This leads road users to take their usual routes that are already congested, raising the costs of the congestion charging fee. On that note, road users are adamant about implementing the policy due to the additional cost imposed. Contrary to the public sentiment, the application of a Congestion Charging System on highly congested roads lessens the financial burden on road users by lowering fuel consumption, saving valuable time that can be converted into currency, and the direct and indirect cost of traffic accidents that increases its possibility of occurrence as congestion worsens. Hence, there is far less traffic on the roads, which is advantageous for the environment and people’s health. This paper highlights the contributing factors of congestion, different traffic strategies implemented to counter congestion, the impact of congestion charging on the traffic flow, and commuters’ perspectives on public transportation.