The Department for Transport (DfT) is set to make an extra £46m next year as a result of its upcoming increases to the Dartford toll, Highways can reveal.
From 1 September, the fee for cars using the crossing will increase from £2.50 to £3.50 – although there will be a discount of 70p for drivers who pre-pay.
Following an FOI request, the DfT told Highways that it estimates gross income from the Dart Charge will rise by ‘between £36-£46 million in the first twelve months’.
Despite advertising the changes as part of traffic demand management efforts, the DfT conceded that it 'has not modelled the specific increase in charges adopted'.
Instead, it has drawn on 'modelling of traffic flows at the Crossing in 2016 and 2033 and interpolated for each year between, both with charges increasing in line with RPI from 2014 and leaving them unchanged'.
On this basis, the Department assessed that the average daily demand at the crossing during the chargeable hours (0600-2200) for the first twelve months will be between 4,000 and 6,000 fewer vehicles than would otherwise have been the case.
However, it added that this estimate should be ‘treated with caution given the limitations of the assessment', and consequently that 'it is the expected trends for changed traffic demand are the more pertinent consideration'.
A DfT spokesperson said: ‘The increase in charges at Dartford is to secure the effective operation of the Crossing so that it works well for the drivers who use it and the local residents affected by it.
‘The need to increase the charges to manage traffic highlights the need for the additional capacity the Lower Thames Crossing can provide, for which the Government has allocated £590m in funding.’
Image credit: Shutterstock @NORRIE3699
