The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is set to rubber stamp an increase to Mersey Tunnel tolls for some drivers next week.
A review of transport service charges - including the Mersey Tunnel Tolls - by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, is set to result in a price rise for some users of the Mersey Tunnels as the Combined Authority battles rising inflation and energy costs.
While the cash toll for a single journey will be frozen at £2, the price of a discounted single journey for someone living in the city region with a T Flow account will rise by 20p to £1.40. The proposals will also see the T-Flow toll for non city region residents will rise by 20p from £1.80 to £2.
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Last year the T-Flow system was introduced, which uses camera technology to read number plates and activate the payment process for those registered with an account. It replaced the Fast Tag system.
The Combined Authority says that the new prices will still mean that local people travelling through the Mersey Tunnels will continue to pay the lowest prices, with 45% of all Mersey Tunnels users being T-Flow or Fast Tag holders living in the city region.
The increase will be discussed at the Combined Authority's budget meeting next Friday (January 20), where it is expected to be agreed. The changes will then come into effect from April 1.
Other price rises will include the cost of Mersey Tunnel tours - which will rise from £8 to £10. It is hoped the increases to transport fees and charges will generate additional income in the region of £3.6m.
While there will be toll rises for some drivers, there is also some better news for public transport users. Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram recently cut the cost of a single adult bus fare to £2, including on cross-river services where passengers are now saving more than 1/3 per journey compared to last year. The cost of a MyTicket has also been frozen at £2.20, giving the region’s young people unlimited, all-day travel.
The price reductions form part of the Mayor’s wider vision to build a London-style integrated transport network that is faster, cheaper, cleaner and more reliable, providing residents with a genuine alternative to the car.
Mersey Ferries commuter passengers’ fares will be remain frozen – at £2.90 for a single and £3.80 for a return journey – which it is hoped will encourage more people to use them.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: “At a time when all other living costs are going up, I want to ensure that we are making it as fair and affordable as possible for our residents to travel.
“Just like many households in our area, local authorities are experiencing the same pressures of rising energy costs which are making our public buildings and critical infrastructure more and more expensive to maintain.
“The Mersey Tunnels demand a huge amount of electricity to keep them running and require year-round maintenance – yet we receive no central government support. Instead, it is left to the Combined Authority to source the funds to keep our tunnels running safely and efficiently.
He added: “The decision to increase prices is never one we take lightly, especially in the current landscape, and we have worked as hard as we can to keep as many charges across our travel network as low as possible – so that our residents will continue to pay the lowest prices.
“While we are committed to giving our residents the best value for their money, these difficult decisions are necessary in order for us to maintain the high standard and operation of the Mersey Tunnels that our residents deserve.”
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